Endorectal Balloons
RectalPro™ Endorectal Balloons
The RectalPro Endorectal Balloon (ERB) will significantly reduce ano-rectal toxicity during external beam radiation of the pelvic region.
The advantages of the endorectal balloon have been proved in a number of investigations in both 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) for primary prostate irradiation, and postoperative prostatic-bed irradiation. More recent research is showing that the ERB can also be used to spare the rectal wall and anal wall during radiation treatment for cervical, bladder and endometrial cancer.
The non-latex RectalPro balloon is inflated in order to gently move the posterior rectal wall away from the prostate and the high irradiation dose region. This results in considerable dose reduction to the rectal and anal wall mucosa, as well as the anal sphincter.
The ERB is well tolerated in over 95% of patients and enables quick and easy insertion and removal by therapists at the treatment machine.
The RectalPro ERB is a flexible, single-use device specifically designed for daily rectal placement prior to treatment delivery.
The long balloon (65mm) is used for treatment of prostate and vesiculae; the short balloon (40mm) is for prostate only.
***References
van Lin EN, et al. Reduced late rectal mucosal changes after prostate three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy with endorectal balloon as observed in repeated endoscopy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2007 Mar 1;67(3):799-811.
Teh BS, et al. Long-term outcome of a moderate-hypofractionated intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) (77 Gy at 2.2 Gy per fraction)
approach utilizing immobilization rectal balloon for localized prostate cancer. Int.J.Radiat.Oncol.Biol.Phys. 69[S335]. 2008.
Smeenk RJ, et al. Anal wall sparing effect of an endorectal balloon in 3D conformal and intensity-modulated prostate radiotherapy. Radiother Oncol 2009 In press.