Clinical and dosimetric impact of totally implantable venous access devices in radiotherapy of supra diaphragmatic Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate attenuation of the totally implantable vascular access device (TIVAD) and assess its clinical and dosimetric impact on radiotherapy (RT) of lymphoma patients. Materials and methods The first part of the study consisted of an in vitro approach by irradiating the TIVAD with different electron and photon energies. The attenuation data measured were compared with data calculated by our treatment planning system. All patients treated by radiotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma with their TIVAD in the target volume were then reviewed to assess the clinical outcome and dosimetric comparison using different plan metrics. All patients were treated by 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) or intensity-modulated radiotherapy delivered by Helical Tomotherapy (HT). Results Nineteen patients treated for stage I-III HL were studied. Seven patients were treated exclusively on the side of TIVAD and 12 were treated bilaterally. Median prescription dose was 30 Gy. No significant clinical or dosimetric differences were observed between the side of the TIVAD and the contralateral side in patients treated bilaterally. HT resulted in a significantly higher conformity index (P  Conclusion TIVADs induce significant beam attenuation when using electrons, which can be overcome by using high-energy photons or by creating an exclusion zone in when HT is used.