Intracavitary irradiation of endometrial carcinomas of the uterus in stage 1 using a 'bulb technique': physical basis

In an attempt to replace the well-known low dose-rate 226Ra in the Heyman packing method with a high-dose-rate afterloading system (Cathetron (RTM) with 60Co sources) for the treatment of stage I carcinoma of the uterine body, a new concept called the ''bulb technique'' has been developed. Different 60Co source trains have been combined to create isodose curve distributions adjusted to the individual size and form of the uterine body. Computer simulation and measurements were used to establish the physical basis of the technique. (author)