In this study, we aimed to make dosimetric measurements of the vaginal speculum by producing the upper and lower tongue of the vaginal speculum from polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material and to test its usability in brachytherapy application.
METHODS
A modular structure of the metallic vaginal speculum, which we use in our routine practice, can be easily
separated from the handle of the speculum, has been designed and produced with a 3D printer from
PEEK material with a layer thickness of 200 µ. Dosimetric measurements of speculum tongue made of
PEEK material were made using two different dosimetric methods (three different techniques as the
treatment planning system ACUROS BV and TG43 algorithms, and the Radiochromic Film Dosimetry
system [Gafchromic: EBT3]).
RESULTS
The values obtained by all three methods were correlated with each other and the speculum did not affect
negatively dose distribution in the dose-distance curves. The dose values obtained by using ACUROS
BV and TG43 algorithms at the Dwell position and the dose values obtained in the Gafchromic dosimetry
measurements made at these points were found to be correlated with each other (ACUROS BV vs.
TG43 p<0.001, ACUROS BV vs. EBT3 p=0.008, TG43 vs. EBT3 p=0.006).
CONCLUSION
When all the measurement results were examined, it was seen that the values obtained were correlated
with each other, and no negative effect of the speculum on the dose distribution was observed in the
dose distance curves.