Dose planning variations related to delineation variations in MRI-guided brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer
To examine the variability in prescribed dose due to contouring variations in intracavitary image-guided adaptive brachytherapy for cervical cancer. To identify correlations between dosimetric outcomes and delineation uncertainty metrics. A data set from an EMBRACE sub-study on contouring uncertainties was used, consisting of magnetic resonance images of six patients with cervical cancer delineated by 10 experienced observers (target volumes and organs at risk). Two gold standard contours were generated, an expert consensus and the simultaneous truth and performance level estimation. Plans were individually optimised to all of the contour sets (12 in total). Plans were applied to the gold standard contour sets, and dose volume histogram parameters including D There is a dosimetric variability between observers, patients and the gold standard contour used for analysis. Approximately 3 Gy D This study highlights the dosimetric differences interobserver uncertainty in contouring can have for cervical cancer brachytherapy. The importance of carefully choosing a gold standard from which to benchmark is reiterated.