Scholars@Duke
Sheridan Griffin Meltsner

Sheridan Griffin Meltsner

Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncology

Selected Publications

Commissioning of the Varian universal interstitial cylinder system for HDR brachytherapy of gynecological cancer.

Journal Article J Appl Clin Med Phys · February 2025 PURPOSE: This paper outlines the commissioning of the Varian (VMS, Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) Universal Interstitial Cylinder (UIC) applicator set for Ir-192 HDR brachytherapy. The UIC was commissioned for use with CT and MRI and a custom phant ... Full text Link to item Cite

Retrospective assessment of HDR brachytherapy dose calculation methods in locally advanced cervical cancer patients: AcurosBV vs. AAPM TG43 formalism.

Journal Article J Appl Clin Med Phys · January 2025 PURPOSE: This retrospective analysis was completed to investigate the use of a model-based dose calculation algorithm (MBDCA) AcurosBV, for use in HDR BT treatments for locally advanced cervical cancer treated with tandem and ovoid applicators with interst ... Full text Link to item Cite

Yttrium-90 (90Y) brachytherapy for squamous carcinoma: Treatment of the conjunctiva, cornea, and sclera.

Journal Article Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep · December 2024 PURPOSE: Patients with conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma that present with persisting disease or recurrence following topical chemotherapy and/or surgery especially when invading the sclera are challenging to treat. Herein, we describe the use of high-d ... Full text Link to item Cite

A novel multi-modality imaging phantom for validating interstitial needle guidance for high dose rate gynecological brachytherapy.

Journal Article J Appl Clin Med Phys · October 2023 PURPOSE: To design, manufacture, and validate a female pelvic phantom for multi-modality imaging (CT, MRI, US) to benchmark a commercial needle tracking system with application in HDR gynecological (GYN) interstitial procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A GY ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Transitioning from a COMS-based plaque brachytherapy program to using eye physics plaques and plaque simulator treatment planning system: A single institutional experience.

Journal Article J Appl Clin Med Phys · May 2023 The aim of this work is to describe the implementation and commissioning of a plaque brachytherapy program using Eye Physics eye plaques and Plaque Simulator treatment planning system based on the experience of one institution with an established COMS-base ... Full text Link to item Cite

What is appropriate target delineation for MRI-based brachytherapy for medically inoperable endometrial cancer?

Journal Article Brachytherapy · 2023 PURPOSE: For medically inoperable endometrial cancer (MIEC), the volumetric target of image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) techniques is not well established. We propose a high-risk CTV (HRCTV) concept and report associated rates of local control and toxicity ... Full text Link to item Cite

Dual-source strength seed loading for eye plaque brachytherapy using eye physics eye plaques: A feasibility study.

Journal Article J Contemp Brachytherapy · December 2022 PURPOSE: This study quantifies the dosimetric impact of incorporating two iodine-125 (125I) seed source strengths in Eye Physics eye plaques for treatment of uveal melanoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Plaque Simulator was used to retrospectively plan 15 clinica ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Preliminary Results of Uveal Melanoma Treated With Iodine-125 Plaques: Analysis of Disease Control and Visual Outcomes With 63 Gy to the Target Volume.

Journal Article Adv Radiat Oncol · 2022 PURPOSE: Our purpose was to review the preliminary outcomes of patients with uveal melanoma treated with iodine-125 plaques using a novel treatment planning approach. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a single institution, retrospective review of patients tr ... Full text Link to item Cite

Recommendations on the practice of calibration, dosimetry, and quality assurance for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery: Report of AAPM Task Group 178.

Journal Article Med Phys · July 2021 The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) formed Task Group 178 (TG-178) to perform the following tasks: review in-phantom and in-air calibration protocols for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery (GSR), suggest a dose rate calibration protocol ... Full text Link to item Cite

Multi-material 3D Printing in Brachytherapy– Prototyping Teaching Tools

Conference International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics · November 2020 Full text Cite

Practice Patterns for the Treatment of Uveal Melanoma with Iodine-125 Plaque Brachytherapy: Ocular Oncology Study Consortium Report 5.

Journal Article Ocul Oncol Pathol · May 2020 BACKGROUND: Treatment planning for I-125 plaque therapy for uveal melanoma has advanced significantly since the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study trial, with more widely available image-guided planning and improved dosimetry. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated real ... Full text Link to item Cite

Multimaterial three-dimensional printing in brachytherapy: Prototyping teaching tools for interstitial and intracavitary procedures in cervical cancers.

Journal Article Brachytherapy · 2020 PURPOSE: As the utilization of brachytherapy procedures continues to decline in clinics, a need for accessible training tools is required to help bridge the gap between resident comfort in brachytherapy training and clinical practice. To improve the qualit ... Full text Link to item Cite

Commissioning and Clinical Implementation of a Laying Down Technique for Total Skin Irradiation

Conference International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics · November 2018 Full text Cite

Vaginal Toxicity From Vaginal Brachytherapy and Capri-Based Systems.

Journal Article Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys · October 1, 2016 Full text Link to item Cite

SU-G-201-13: Investigation of Dose Variation Induced by HDR Ir-192 Source Global Shift Within the Varian Ring Applicator Using Monte Carlo Methods.

Journal Article Med Phys · June 2016 PURPOSE: The Varian tandem and ring applicators are used to deliver HDR Ir-192 brachytherapy for cervical cancer. The source path within the ring is hard to predict due to the larger interior ring lumen. Some studies showed the source could be several mill ... Full text Link to item Cite

Vaginal Dose Is Associated With Toxicity in Image Guided Tandem Ring or Ovoid-Based Brachytherapy.

Journal Article Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys · April 1, 2016 PURPOSE: To calculate vaginal doses during image guided brachytherapy with volume-based metrics and correlate with long-term vaginal toxicity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this institutional review board-approved study, institutional databases were searched t ... Full text Link to item Cite

A round-robin gamma stereotactic radiosurgery dosimetry interinstitution comparison of calibration protocols.

Journal Article Med Phys · November 2015 PURPOSE: Absorbed dose calibration for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery is challenging due to the unique geometric conditions, dosimetry characteristics, and nonstandard field size of these devices. Members of the American Association of Physicists in Medic ... Full text Link to item Cite

TU‐G‐BRD‐04: A Round Robin Dosimetry Intercomparison of Gamma Stereotactic Radiosurgery Calibration Protocols

Conference Medical Physics · June 2015 Purpose:The purpose of this multi‐institutional study was to compare two new gamma stereotactic radiosurgery (GSRS) dosimetry protocols to existing calibration methods. The ultimate goal was to guide AAPM Task Gro ... Full text Cite

An investigation of a PRESAGE® in vivo dosimeter for brachytherapy.

Journal Article Phys Med Biol · July 21, 2014 Determining accurate in vivo dosimetry in brachytherapy treatment with high dose gradients is challenging. Here we introduce, investigate, and characterize a novel in vivo dosimeter and readout technique with the potential to address this problem. A cylind ... Full text Link to item Cite

Vaginal Dose and Toxicity With Image-Guided Brachytherapy

Conference International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics · October 2013 Full text Cite

SU-D-108-03: Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Novel Radiochromic Dosimetry System for In-Vivo Dose Verification in Organs at Risk in HDR Intracavitary Gynecological Brachytherapy.

Journal Article Med Phys · June 2013 PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of a novel radiochromic dosimetry system for in-vivo dose verification in organs at risk in HDR intracavitary gynecological brachytherapy. METHODS: Novel, small cylindrical PRESAGE dosimeters (4mm in diameter by 20mm in ... Full text Link to item Cite

SU‐E‐J‐88: Dose Summation Between Multimodality Treatments for Cervical Cancer

Journal Article Medical Physics · January 1, 2013 Purpose: 1) To explore the feasibility of volumetric dose summation between external beam radiation (EBRT) and high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatments for cervical cancer, and 2) to investigate the differences between two deformable registration plat ... Full text Cite

Air kerma based dosimetry calibration for the Leksell Gamma Knife.

Journal Article Med Phys · February 2009 No accepted official protocol exists for the dosimetry of the Leksell Gamma Knife (GK) stereotactic radiosurgery device. Establishment of a dosimetry protocol has been complicated by the unique partial-hemisphere arrangement of 201 individual 60Co beams si ... Full text Link to item Cite

SU‐GG‐T‐224: Air Kerma Based Dosimetry Calibration for the Elekta Gamma Knife

Conference Medical Physics · January 1, 2008 Purpose: To present an air kerma based dosimetry methodology using either an in‐air or in‐acrylic phantom measurement to determine the dose rate of fields collimated by the 18mm helmet of a Leksell Gamma Knife (GK) unit. Method and Materials: This work use ... Full text Cite

TU‐FF‐A2‐05: 3D Dose Distribution of the Elekta Gamma Knife

Conference Medical Physics · January 1, 2008 Purpose: To design and implement a novel three‐dimensional (3D) radiochromic film phantom for use with the Gamma Knife (GK). Use of radiochromic film and a flat bed white light scanner will allow greater resolution than gel‐based 3D dosimeters. In addition ... Full text Cite

Characterization of the ADII-33 diamond detector.

Journal Article Med Phys · January 2007 Dosimetry characteristics of the ADII-33 diamond detector were investigated. Sensitivity, stability, bias voltage, hardening, dose rate, energy dependence, and spatial resolution were examined. Current generated in the detector was found to be proportional ... Full text Link to item Cite

SU‐FF‐T‐402: The Development of a New Radiochromic Film Protocol for Three‐Dimensional and Beta Dosimetry

Journal Article Medical Physics · January 1, 2007 Purpose: To develop a film‐specific correction factor for radiochromic film (RCF) when exposed to [formula omitted] in a parallel geometry and to use this technique with three‐dimensional and beta dosimetry. Method and Materials: Radiochromic films were pl ... Full text Cite

SU‐FF‐T‐408: TG21 In‐Air Measurements of Elekta Gamma Knife Dose Volumes

Conference Medical Physics · January 1, 2006 Purpose: To implement TG21 dosimetry protocols and in‐air measurements to determine the dose rate of fields resulting from the 18mm and 14mm helmets of an Elekta Gamma Knife (GK) unit. Methods and Materials: An air ionization chamber with a collecting volu ... Full text Cite

SU‐EE‐A1‐03: A Novel Three‐Dimensional Radiochromic Film Phantom for Use with Stereotactic Radiosurgery Units

Conference Medical Physics · January 1, 2006 Purpose: To create a three‐dimensional (3D) film dosimeter capable of simultaneously measuring the entire relative dose distribution of the volume fields of an Elekta Gamma Knife (GK) unit. Methods and Materials: A spherical head phantom was constructed ou ... Full text Cite

The effect of ambient pressure on well chamber response: Monte Carlo calculated results for the HDR 1000 plus.

Journal Article Med Phys · April 2005 The determination of the air kerma strength of a brachytherapy seed is necessary for effective treatment planning. Well ionization chambers are used on site at therapy clinics to determine the air kerma strength of seeds. In this work, the response of the ... Full text Link to item Cite

The effect of ambient pressure on well chamber response: experimental results with empirical correction factors.

Journal Article Med Phys · March 2005 For some air-communicating well-type chambers used for low-energy brachytherapy source assay, deviations from expected values of measured air kerma strength were observed at low pressures associated with high altitudes. This effect is consistent with an ov ... Full text Link to item Cite

SU‐FF‐T‐391: A New Look at Helmet Output Factor Utility in Gamma Knife Treatments

Journal Article Medical Physics · January 1, 2005 Purpose: To characterize the volume dose distribution of Gamma Knife (GK) stereotactic radiosurgery units to compare point‐measurement based helmet factors and volume‐based measurements of dose. Method and Materials: Helmet factors were determined using ra ... Full text Cite

WE‐D‐T‐617‐03: Characterization of a Novel Diamond Detector

Journal Article Medical Physics · January 1, 2005 Purpose: Test a novel diamond detector performance and applicability for radiation dosimetry. Detector sensitivity, stability and dependence on bias voltage, dose rate, energy and hardening have been studied. Method and Material: Detector was irradiated in ... Full text Cite

Experimental 3D dosimetry around a high-dose-rate clinical 192Ir source using a polyacrylamide gel (PAG) dosimeter.

Journal Article Phys Med Biol · October 1999 It is well known that the experimental dosimetry of brachytherapy sources presents a challenge. Depending on the particular-dosimeter used, measurements can suffer from poor spatial resolution (ion chambers), lack of 3D information (film) or errors due to ... Full text Link to item Cite