• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.735-740
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• 2022

In order to reduce side effects such as rectal bleeding in the Brachytherapy, the rectal retractor and wet gauze have been used to increase the distance between the rectum and the tandem. However, there were disadvantages that it was difficult to insert through a narrow entrance into the vagina and poor reproducibility. Also, based on the CT image of the selected catheter, the distance from the tandem to the rectum with or without the balloon catheter was checked and the reduction of the dose to the rectum was confirmed. As a result of the experiment, catheter No. 7 was selected considering the maximum balloon size at a level that does not affect the distance between the start point of the balloon and the end of the catheter, and the ovoid applicator. Based on the CT image of the selected catheter, the degree of expansion according to the presence or absence of the balloon catheter was compared, and it was found that the distance difference was 0.3 - 1 cm. In addition, it was confirmed that a decrease of about 32% was observed due to this distance difference. Therefore, the actual clinical application of the selected catheter can be used as a substitute for the existing rectal retractor and wet gauze.