This review analyses the literature concerning the influence of the patient position (supine, prone and prone on a belly board device (BB) on the irradiated small-bowel-volume (SB-V)) and the resulting morbidity of radiation therapy (RT) in pelvic malignancies.

A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, web of science and Scopus.

Forty-six full papers were found, of which 33 met the eligibility criteria. Fifteen articles focussed on the irradiated SB-V using dose volume histograms (DVHs). Twenty-seven articles studied the patient setup in different patient positions. This review showed that a prone treatment position can result in a lower irradiated SB-V as compared to a supine position, but a more significant reduction of the SB-V can be reached by the additional use of a BB in prone position, for both 3D-CRT and IMRT treatment plans. This reduction of the irradiated SB-V might result in a reduced GI-morbidity. The patient position did not influence the required PTV margins for prostate and rectum.

The irradiated SB-V can be maximally reduced by the use of a prone treatment position combined with a BB for both 3D-CRT and IMRT, which might individually result in a reduction of GI-morbidity.