The effect of rectal shape and size on bladder deformation

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The effect of rectal shape and size on bladder deformation in patients receiving radiotherapy to the Urinary bladder.

• IRAS ID

  228604

• Contact name

  Nicky Hutton

• Contact email

  nicky.hutton@clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 6 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  The bladder is an organ subject to gross variations in shape and size. When using radiotherapy to treat urinary bladder cancer the whole bladder is treated, rather than just the tumour. Most radiotherapy treatments are fractionated (delivered over several treatments) and are planned based on achieving the same internal anatomical conditions for all treatments.
  The overall volume irradiated accounts for the potential variability in bladder shape and size between planning and treatments. Margins are added to account for this variability that ensures that the tumour is encompassed in the treatment field. This also means a volume of healthy tissue is irradiated which may cause additional side effects and reduced quality of life during and soon after treatment finishes.

  Bladder size itself can largely be controlled by using an empty bladder protocol whereby the patient empties their bladder directly before radiotherapy planning and each subsequent treatment.
  The shape of an empty bladder can be influenced by other organs located in proximity to it, most notably the rectum.

  A protocol has been implemented in the trust to control the rectal volume between planning, and each treatment, using a micro-enema. This has been demonstrated, in an earlier study, to improve consistency in rectal volume and content between planning and treatment.

  The aim of this study is to identify the significance of the relationship between rectal consistency and bladder deformation (change in shape).

• REC name

  North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/NW/0570

• Date of REC Opinion

  11 Oct 2017

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion