(Circulation. 1998;98:2024-2029.)
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.
Clinical Investigation and Reports |
From Columbia University, Department of Radiation Oncology (H.I.A., F.T.) and Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology (J.W.), New York, NY.
| Abstract |
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-radiation to prevent recurrent restenosis,
even in the presence of an implanted stent. The limited range of
ß-particles compared with
-radiation, however, opens the question
of whether absorption and scattering of ß-particles by stent struts
will cause significant perturbations in the uniformity and magnitude of
the radiation dose, which may in turn compromise treatment.
Methods and ResultsNine different stents were deployed with a
balloon filled with a ß-emitting radioactive liquid. Dose
distributions were measured with Gafchromic film. Stents varied
significantly in their absorption of ß-particles. Some stents,
constructed of fine meshed wires, produced minimal dose perturbations.
Others, with thicker, high-atomic-number struts, induced cold spots in
the dose distribution adjacent to the wires of
35%. Average dose
reduction varied from 4% to 14% in the presence of various
stents.
ConclusionsRadiation strategy may have to be tailored to stent
design. Stents that minimally perturb the dose distribution may be
deployed before irradiation. Those that significantly alter the
radiation dose might be better deployed after irradiation. Dose
prescriptions may require modification if such perturbations prove
clinically significant. Observed dose perturbations, however, decreased
rapidly with increasing distance from the stent, which may mitigate the
clinical impact of these findings. This, as well as the effects of
stents on
-dose distributions, requires further investigation.
Key Words: angioplasty restenosis brachytherapy stents beta rays
| Introduction |
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32%,1 which can be reduced to
22%2 when accompanied by stent implantation. It
has been demonstrated in animal models3 4 5 6 7 and
more recently in clinical studies that intracoronary
irradiation significantly reduces restenosis, presumably by
inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation and neointima
formation. Irradiation of human femoral arteries appears to confirm
these findings.8 A recent
report9 of a clinical trial of intravascular
-irradiation of restenotic lesions (60% of which had been
previously stented) in human coronary arteries showed 6-month
restenosis rates of 17% in irradiated arteries versus 54% in
controls. Large-scale randomized human trials and longer-term follow-up
studies are currently in progress.
Several irradiation techniques have been proposed, including
temporary insertion of high-activity
- or ß-emitting seeds or
wires; temporary filling of the dilatation balloon catheter with a
high-activity ß-emitting solution; implantation of radioactive
ß-emitting stents; and external beam irradiation. The dosimetric
characteristics of each technique have been
presented.10 11 12 To date, most trials
have been performed with 192Ir (a
-emitter),
32P, 90Sr,
90Y, or 188Re (all
ß-emitters).
The major dosimetric difference between ß- and
-radiations is that
the former have a finite range in tissue (typically a few millimeters),
whereas the latter are exponentially attenuated. Most ß-emitters
proposed for intraluminal brachytherapy have transition energies <2.4
MeV, with mean ranges in tissue of only a few millimeters. Such ranges
are sufficient for treating smaller arteries, but scattering and
absorption of the ß- particles by stent wires could limit the dose to
sections of the arterial wall. In particular, stent struts
are often made of high-density, high-atomic-number metals in which the
range of ß-particles is only a fraction of a millimeter. Stents also
perturb the dose for
-radiation sources, but to a lesser extent
because
-particles lack a finite range. Short-ranged ß-particles,
however, offer radiation safety advantages and yield lower whole-body
doses to patients and staff than
-sources. Thus, many ongoing
clinical trials now use ß-sources.
We explore herein the perturbations in ß- dose distribution induced
by 9 different stents from 7 manufacturers. Implantation of radioactive
stents, irradiation by external beam, and intraluminal irradiation from
ß- or
-sources entail different geometries and require separate
study.
| Methods |
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188Re is a ß-minus emitter with 2.2 MeV of
maximum ß-energy. Its production and radioactive properties
have been described.12 13 A
188Re-filled balloon provides a
homogeneous, cylindrically symmetrical radiation source,
which in the absence of perturbing factors yields a uniform dose
distribution to the inner lumen wall, as shown in Figure 1A
(see Results), which was obtained by
placing a radioactive filled balloon in direct contact with a piece of
Gafchromic film (Nuclear Associates).
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The film is a 0.25-mm-thick transparent polymer containing a 20-µm-thick radiosensitive emulsion that changes from clear to translucent blue after irradiation. The radiosensitive emulsion is sandwiched in the center of the film, meaning that dose distributions cannot be measured at distances <0.125 mm. The transmission of red light (the color complement of blue) through the film is a function of the radiation dose received by the film. The utility of the film derives from its tissue equivalence, capability for direct readout (no processing required), insensitivity to visible light, high spatial resolution, and independence of response to radiation energy or dose rate.14 15
Each of the 9 stents tested was deployed with a separate angioplasty
balloon and placed on top of a stack of 4 slices of Gafchromic film
(see Figure 2
). Doses were measured at
distances of 0.125, 0.375, 0.625, and 0.875 mm from the surface of
the balloon. A slab of tissue-equivalent material was placed on top of
and around each balloon to ensure solid contact between the
balloon/stent and the film and to simulate a homogeneous
unit density geometry. Stents were inspected visually to ensure full
deployment and good film contact. A relatively low-specific-activity
188Re solution was used (5 to 10 mCi/mL, versus a
therapeutic activity of 50 to 100 mCi/mL) to reduce the dose to which
the experimenters were exposed. Film exposures lasted several hours
each.
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Exposed films were optically scanned with a computer-controlled red-light transmission scanner, converted to a digital image with 23.6 pixel/mm resolution and 8-bit gray scale. These were converted to dose by use of calibration values obtained by exposing film to known doses of 60Co radiation.
To better quantify the dose distributions, various parameters were extracted from the central 5-mm-axial by 0.5-mm-radial section of each film (where the balloon and stent were tangent to the radiochromic film). The dose within this region was normalized to unity, and dose histograms were determined. The minimum, mean, and SD of each dose distribution were tabulated.
Next, stents were cut along their axial lengths, flattened, placed in direct contact with a piece of radiographic film, and irradiated with parallel, monoenergetic, 1-MeV electrons from a linear accelerator. This permitted measurements of electron beam absorption for a less-complicated geometry. We estimated the relative value of absorption for each stent by measuring the average optical density over a 1-mm-diameter circle of the irradiated film in the vicinity of the stent struts. A qualitative score of 0 (least absorption) to 3 (most absorption) was assigned to each stent on the basis of its optical density.
| Results |
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The second perturbation induced by stents is dose shadowing, shown in
Figure 1
. Figure 1A
shows a dose distribution measured with Gafchromic
film in direct contact with a balloon. For clarity, the dose is
displayed by use of a color scale, with the maximum dose
represented by red and the minimum by purple. The nominal
dimensions of the balloon are 2 cm in length by 3 mm in diameter.
There is a central region of uniform high dose (red) where the balloon
is tangent to the film. Dose decreases with increasing radial and axial
distance from the center of the balloon (yellow, green, and blue
regions).
Figures 1B
, 1C
, and 1D
show similar dose distributions for the
Wallstent(D), Wiktor, and Radius stents, respectively. A separate
balloon deployed each stent, with stents interposed between balloons
and film. The Wallstent(E) is a fine elgiloy (an alloy of chromium,
cobalt, and nickel) mesh of
25 rows of thin strut wire along the
axial length of the stent. The thin, relatively low-atomic-number wires
(Cr=24, Co=27, and Ni=28) produced only a shallow ripple of cold spots
in the dose distribution, seen as yellow in the central high-dose zone
(red) of Figure 1B
. The maximum dose measured in the red zone of Figure 1B
for the Wallstent(E) was equal to the maximum dose measured with an
unstented balloon (Figure 1A
), but the average and minimum doses were
decreased by the stent. For the Wallstent(E), the dose decrease was 3%
to 4%, although other stents produced larger perturbations (see Table 2
).
The Wiktor stent (Figure 1C
) has fewer wires than the Wallstent(E), but
they are thicker and are made of tantalum (atomic number 73, specific
gravity 16.7). The high-atomic-number, high-density wires absorb and
scatter more electrons and produce a larger zone of low dose (yellow)
than the Wallstent(E). Yellow waves or low-dose shadows within the
central red zone are clearly seen in Figure 1C
for the Wiktor stent.
Figure 1D
shows the dose distribution for the Radius stent, which also
has yellow and even green shadow patterns from the stent wires. The
Radius stent is constructed of nitinol, an alloy of nickel and
titanium. These struts are less dense than the Wiktor tantalum struts
but are thicker and more massive.
Figures 1B
through 1D graphically depict ß-dose distributions very
close (0.125 mm) to the stent surface, where the most severe
effects are seen. Beyond a distance of
0.5 mm, multiple coulomb
scattering of the electrons washes out the shadowing effects of the
stent struts, although the reduction in average dose remains. Other
radioactive sources, such as solid wires and seeds, may produce
different electron scattering patterns from the liquid balloon shown
here.
Table 2
and Figures 3 through 7![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
present various
parameters of the central 5x0.5-mm2
area of each radiochromic film. Table 2
lists the minimum, mean, and SD
of the dose distributions for each stent (all distributions normalized
to unity), plus the relative linear accelerator beam absorption. Stents
are listed in approximate order of increasing dose perturbation, as
defined by a decrease in the mean dose. The maximum dose measured on
the surface of the balloon always occurred between struts and was
measured to be equal to the maximum dose for the unstented balloon.
Only the mean and minimum doses were decreased by the stent.
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The ordering of stents in Table 2
changes slightly when ranked by
minimum dose, SD, or accelerator beam transmission, respectively. By
any of these criteria, however, all stents tested fell roughly into 2
categories. Both Wallstents, NIR, CardioCoil, and Multilink
stents produced relatively small dose perturbations, with ratios of
mean dose to maximum dose within 4% of the unstented balloon and the
ratio of minimum to maximum dose within 10%. The Cordis tantalum,
Palmaz-Schatz (PS-153), Radius, and Wiktor stents all produced larger
dose perturbations, with mean doses up to 14% lower than the unstented
balloon and minimum doses up to 35% lower. These dose inhomogeneities
applied only at the closest distance measured (0.125 mm from the
balloon surface) and decreased significantly with increasing distance,
as discussed below.
In Figure 4
, we plot dose surface
histograms (DSH) for the central 5x0.5-mm2
regions of an unstented balloon and for the Wallstent(E), Wiktor, and
Radius stents. In a DSH plot, the abscissa represents dose
(normalized to 1.0) and the ordinate represents the fraction of
lumen surface receiving a dose greater than or equal to a given value
of dose. For example, for an unstented balloon, 80% of the lumen wall
receives a dose >95% of the maximum (see dashed lines in Figure 4
),
indicating a very uniform dose distribution. For the Radius stent, that
same surface fraction (of 80%) receives only >73% of the maximum
dose. In other words, for the Radius stent, 20% of the lumen surface
(ie, 100%-80%) receives a dose 27% (ie, 100%-73%) lower than
prescribed.
Another way to compare DSH plots is to recognize that large surface
fractions and large dose values (ie, the upper right corner of the
graph) represent uniform dose distributions [unstented balloon
or Wallstent(E)], whereas curves in the lower left (Wiktor or Radius
stents) represent inhomogeneous distributions. This
can also be seen in Figure 5
, which plots
the differential dose distributions. In this graph, the abscissa again
represents dose (normalized to 1.0), but the ordinate
represents the fraction of the lumen surface receiving a dose
equal to a given value of dose. Again we see a decrease in mean dose
(the peak in the distribution shifts toward lower doses) and an
increase in SD (or full width, half maximum of the distribution) for
the Wallstent(E), Wiktor, and Radius stents compared with the unstented
balloon.
For clarity, only 3 of the 9 stents are plotted in Figures 4
and 5
.
Dose inhomogeneities depicted were measured 0.125 mm from the
surface of the stents. Figures 6
and 7
depict the relative dose inhomogeneity for all stents tested, as
measured by the SD of the dose distribution (Figure 6
), and the mean
dose (Figure 7
). All doses in Figures 1
, 4
, 5
, 6
, and 7
and Table 2
have been normalized for comparative
purposes. Figures 6
and 7
indicate the relatively large dose
perturbations induced by the Cordis tantalum, Palmaz-Schatz, Radius,
and Wiktor stents compared with the other 5 stents. This ranking is not
a reflection of the clinical efficacy of the stent but merely indicates
effects on ß-dose distributions.
Dose perturbations induced by stents were most evident at the
stent-lumen interface. Scattering of electrons by stent struts and
tissue rapidly filled in the pattern of cold spots seen in Figure 1
as
one went farther into the lumen wall. At a radial distance of
0.375 mm beyond the surface of the balloon or stent, for example,
the SD of the dose distribution for the Radius and Wiktor stents was
reduced from 0.069 to 0.035 and from 0.062 to 0.022, respectively. At a
radial distance of 0.625 mm from the balloon surface, the SDs for
both stents was reduced to 0.021, which was not statistically different
from the unstented balloon. Nonetheless, all stents had lower average
doses and less-uniform dose distributions than the unstented balloon.
As distance from the stent increased, the average dose reduction
remained relatively constant, but the degree of dose inhomogeneity
(compared with the surface inhomogeneity) decreased. At distances
>0.5 mm, the inhomogeneity approached that of an unstented
balloon.
| Discussion |
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We also do not know which structures in the vessel wall need be irradiated, or the minimum or maximum acceptable doses. Large dose inhomogeneities, however, may limit the ability to deliver adequate doses to the entire circumference of the vessel wall without overdosing other tissues. This would be particularly true if target cells were close to (ie, <0.5 mm from) the stent surface, where inhomogeneities are large, but less important if target cells were further into the lumen wall or adventitia. In either case, other factors such as vessel asymmetry, noncentered sources, and plaque could conceivably introduce larger dose inhomogeneities than stents.
In any case, each stent tested in the present study produced a unique signature on the dose distribution. The degree of dose inhomogeneity induced by a stent is a complicated function of stent mass, geometry, strut thickness, and composition. Thicker, denser struts absorb more ß-particles than thinner wires. It is notable, however, that large variations were seen among the various stents tested.
Wallstent(E), Wallstent(D), and NIR stents are constructed of fine meshes of thin wires that minimally alter the absolute dose rate or degree of inhomogeneity. The Palmaz-Schatz, Wiktor, Cordis tantalum, and Radius stents, which have thick and/or high-density wires, produce larger inhomogeneities. With the Radius, Wiktor, or Palmaz-Schatz stents, for example, the minimum dose to the lumen wall is only 65% to 68% of the maximum dose.
No single parameter, however, uniquely correlates with either the measured dose distributions or electron beam absorption. For example, the mass of the Cordis tantalum stent per millimeter of length is nearly twice that of the Wiktor stent (23.75 versus 14.0 mg/mm), although both significantly absorb the linear accelerator beam, and the latter induces slightly larger dose inhomogeneities. The Radius stent is constructed of a nickel-titanium alloy with a lower atomic number than either stainless steel or tantalum, yet it induces large dose inhomogeneities.
Nonetheless, some general observations can be made. The Wallstent(E) and Wallstent(D) induce the least dose heterogeneity and are also the most transparent to the linear accelerator beam. This is a result of their relatively low mass and thin wire design. The Wiktor stent induces the most dose heterogeneity and the most absorption of the 1 MeV linear accelerator beam despite its lower mass (14.0 mg/cm) because it is constructed of a small number of relatively thick tantalum wires with an atomic number of 73. Similarly, the Cordis tantalum stent induces large dose perturbations and absorbs the 1-MeV accelerator beam because of its relatively large mass (23.8 mg/cm) and high atomic number. Stents exhibiting intermediate degrees of dose perturbation and accelerator beam absorption, such as the NIR and Multilink, have various combinations of either low mass, low atomic number, or intermediate strut thickness.
Thus, one can qualitatively understand the observed dosimetric properties of stents on the basis of composition and geometry, although no single parameter correlates with the observed dose distributions. It appears that only dosimetric measurements or theoretical calculations can accurately predict reductions in average dose and increased inhomogeneities introduced by stents. Average reduction in dose rate can be measured, as shown in the present study, and compensated for in dose prescription. Dose inhomogeneity, on the other hand, cannot be compensated for and may be clinically significant if the target tissues for restenosis are <0.5 mm from the lumen wall.
Thus, radiation absorption properties, as well as the usual considerations of strength, flexibility, and "trackability", need be considered when a stent is being selected for use with radiation. Dose adjustments may be required to effectively use ß-sources when one is treating restenotic lesions that have previously been stented, particularly when there are multiple or overlapping stents. Overlapping stents would be expected to approximately double the magnitude of the effects reported here, although this was not measured in the present study.
We also did not measure dose perturbations for
-sources, which
should be less affected by stents than are ß-particles because of
their increased range. Because it will be necessary in some cases to
irradiate patients who have previously been stented, a study of
-dose perturbations appears to be in order. Results from the SCRIPPS
trial,9 however, show no significant clinical
difference between stented and unstented patients after irradiation
with 192Ir
-rays. This could be the result of
much lower (insignificant) dose perturbation induced by stents when
-radiation is used. Alternatively, in-stent restenosis may
involve the irradiation of cells that are inside rather than outside
the stent and thus not affected, at least dosimetrically, by the
presence of the stent.
Conclusions
The dose uniformity for intravascular irradiation with ß-
sources can be compromised by the presence of stents as well as vessel
asymmetry and curvature, nonuniform wall thickness, and the presence of
plaque. The degree of dose perturbation varied significantly between
the stents tested, although no single parameter (such as
mass, atomic number, or geometry) uniquely correlated with the measured
doses or beam absorption. It appears that only direct measurements or
perhaps Monte Carlo calculations can accurately predict in vivo patient
doses. Large dose homogeneities were measured close to stent surfaces,
but the degree of inhomogeneity decreased rapidly at larger distances
(>0.5 mm). The clinical significance of these findings will
depend on whether the target cells are close to the stent or further
into the lumen wall or adventitia and also on whether or not vessel
asymmetry or variable wall thickness mitigates the inhomogeneity
introduced by the stent. Answers will come only from clinical
trials.
Limitations
Several experimental conditions limit the accuracy of our results.
Incomplete contact between the balloon and the radiochromic film can
reduce measured doses, although specific measures to minimize this
possibility were used. The thickness of stent struts also introduces
some uncertainty as to the true distance between the balloon and film
surface, although balloons tend to bulge out and maintain good contact
with the film between struts.
Radiochromic film has small inhomogeneities in emulsion thickness, which in turn affect dose accuracy, and film scanner resolution introduces some spatial averaging in the dose readings. In addition, in vivo stent wires may become twisted owing to resistance from vessel walls, and a deployed stent may have a varying diameter along the axial extent of the lesion. These factors could not be duplicated in our experiments, nor could anatomic factors such as vessel asymmetry and curvature, nonuniform wall thickness, and the presence of plaque.
Finally, the clinical significance of our reported dose inhomogeneities can only be determined from clinical trials.
| Acknowledgments |
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| Footnotes |
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Received February 11, 1998; revision received June 22, 1998; accepted June 23, 1998.
| References |
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