Variability in bladder volumes of full bladders in definitive radiotherapy for cases of localized prostate cancer

To evaluate variation in bladder volume of full bladders in definitive radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer and to investigate potential predictors of increased bladder volume variations. In 40 patients, the bladder volume was measured with megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) imaging performed just before irradiation during the administration of the 1st fraction (1), the 10th fraction (10), the 20th fraction (20), and the 30th fraction (30). Patients were instructed to avoid urinating for 60-90 minutes before the planning CT (pln-CT) scan and before daily irradiation. Patients were also encouraged to drink an unspecified volume of liquid that would result in a clear but tolerable urge to urinate. The population-mean bladder volume (±1SD) was 219 ml (±83 ml) at the planning CT scan (pln-CT), 186 ml (±96 ml) at 1, 149 ml (±73 ml) at 10, 137 ml (±59 ml) at 20, and 136 ml (±60 ml) at 30. The mean intrapatient variation in bladder volume (1 SD relative to the mean bladder volume of each patient) was 38% (range: 10-84%). The bladder volume at the pln-CT was correlated with the intrapatient variance in bladder volume with a correlation coefficient of 0.54 and p <0.001. We observed a significant decline in bladder volumes during the course of radiotherapy. The bladder volume at the pln-CT was a significant predictor of increased bladder volume variations. (orig.)