ABSTRACT
Introduction and Objective: Anatomic and volumetric changes occur in head-and-neck cancer during fractionated radiotherapy (RT), and the actual dose received by patient is considerably different from the original plan. The purpose of this study is to evaluate volumetric and dosimetric changes occurring during radiation therapy. Patients and Methods: Ten patients of locally advanced head-and-neck cancer, 6 oropharynx, 3 larynx, and 1 hypopharynx underwent computed tomography (CT) simulation before treatment and after 4 weeks during RT treatment. Original plan (OPLAN) was generated based on initial CT scan for the entire course of treatment. The initial plan is implemented on the second planning CT scan, and the dose distribution is recalculated. Beam configuration of OPLAN was applied onto the second CT scan and then hybrid plan (HPLAN30) was generated. RPLAN30 is the intensity-modulated RT replan generated on the second CT scan for the remaining 30 Gy. Dose and volume parameters between OPLAN30 (based on the first CT scan for the remaining 30 Gy), HPLAN30, and RPLAN30 were compared. Results: The volume reduction of planning target volume (PTV), ipsilateral and contralateral parotid after 4 weeks of RT, was statistically significant (P < 0.05). D2% and V > 107% of PTV were higher in HPLAN than that of RPLAN (P < 0.05). Hybrid plans showed increase in delivered dose to spinal cord. Mid treatment replanning reduced doses to spinal cord (Dmax and D1%), which is statistically significant (P < 0.05). Mean doses to ipsilateral and contralateral parotid of RPLAN (21.4 Gy and 16.74 Gy, respectively) were reduced when compared to that of HPLAN (22.99 Gy and 22 Gy, respectively). Conclusion: Interim CT scanning and replanning (adaptive) improves target volume coverage and normal tissue sparing
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the change in anatomical volume during intensity?modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for different stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its influence on dose distribution, and to assess the necessity to modify the IMRT plan. Methods Twenty?four patients with newly diagnosed NPC who received IMRT and chemotherapy were enrolled in the study, and were divided into early?intermediate group ( 12 cases ) and locally advanced group ( 12 cases ) according to the 2008 staging system for NPC. Each patient had a repeated CT scan at week 5 of radiotherapy, and target volume and organs at risk ( OAR) were contoured. The dose distribution of the original plan shown on CT was calculated. Changes in target volume, OAR anatomical volume, and dose distribution were analyzed, and paired t?test and Spearman correlation analysis were performed. Results In the early?intermediate group, gross target volume of neck positive lymph nodes (GTVnd) was reduced during radiotherapy (P=0. 059), and gross target volume of nasopharynx ( GTVnx ) , high?risk clinical target volume ( CTV1 ) , and parotid volume were reduced significantly during radiotherapy ( P= 0. 001, 0. 012, 0. 002, and 0. 000, respectively) . In locally advanced group, GTVnx , GTVnd , CTV1 , and parotid volume were significantly reduced during IMRT (P=0. 000, 0. 000, 0. 003, 0. 003, and 0. 000, respectively). Compared with the values before radiotherapy, the parotid dose increased significantly in the two groups during IMRT ( P=0. 044, 0. 026, 0. 033, and 0. 026, respectively;P=0. 024, 0. 016, 0. 030, and 0. 015, respectively) , and the increase in GTVnd dose was observed in the locally advanced group ( P= 0. 029 and 0. 049 ) . Conclusions It is recommended to perform another CT scan for patients with locally advanced NPC at week 5 of radiotherapy and formulate a new IMRT plan to maintain target volume dose and guarantee a safe parotid dose.