Protocol of a study investigating breath-hold techniques for upper-abdominal radiation therapy (BURDIE): addressing the challenge of a moving target

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy to upper abdominal sites is technically challenging due to motion of tumors and surrounding organs resulting from normal respiration. Breath-hold, using an Active Breathing Coordinator is one strategy used to reduce motion in these tumor sites. Though widely used, no studies have prospectively compared the different breath-hold techniques (inspiration, deep-inspiration and expiration) using ABC in the same patient cohort. METHODS: Patients planned for radiation therapy to upper abdominal tumors are invited to participate in this prospective study. Participants attempt three breath hold techniques: inspiration, deep-inspiration and expiration breath-hold, in rand..