To create a more uniform radiation dose to a patient’s skin cancer or subsurface skin lesion, radiation therapists use a bolus device, such as wet gauze. Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute is bringing innovation to bolus devices by using a 3D printer and software from Adaptiiv Medical Technologies Inc. to create completely customized bolus devices.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is among only a handful of programs in the nation — and the only location in the region — using this technology.

“Using a computed tomography scan of a patient’s treatment site, the Adaptiiv software creates a plan from which a 3D printable bolus can be made in advance of a patient’s first radiation therapy appointment,” says radiation oncologist Dennis Sopka, with Allentown Radiation Oncology Associates, and Chair of Radiation Oncology at Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute. “By creating a custom-fit bolus, we can improve our patient’s treatment experience, as well as ensure radiation dose accuracy.”

Using a 3D printed bolus helps ensure curved or irregularly shaped areas, such as nose, ear or scalp, have uniform coverage provided by the custom-shaped device. It also helps increase patient comfort.

“We also will be able to provide high dose rate brachytherapy to a larger subset of skin cancer patients than before by using 3D printed bolus devices,” Sopka says.

Lehigh Valley Health Network includes eight hospital campuses around the region; Coordinated Health, which includes two hospital campuses, nearly two dozen multispecialty locations; 26 health centers; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices; 20 ExpressCARE locations; pharmacy, imaging, home health, rehabilitation and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred.

Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute is a member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, an initiative that helps community providers improve the quality of cancer care and offers access to MSK clinical trials.