Assessment of MLC tracking performance during hypofractionated prostate radiotherapy using real-time dose reconstruction.

By adapting to the actual patient anatomy during treatment, tracked multi-leaf collimator (MLC) treatment deliveries offer an opportunity for margin reduction and healthy tissue sparing. This is assumed to be especially relevant for hypofractionated protocols in which intrafractional motion does not easily average out. In order to confidently deliver tracked treatments with potentially reduced margins, it is necessary to monitor not only the patient anatomy but also the actually delivered dose during irradiation. In this study, we present a novel real-time online dose reconstruction tool which calculates actually delivered dose based on pre-calculated dose influence data in less than 10 ms at a rate of 25 Hz. Using this tool we investigate the impact of clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margins on CTV coverage and organ-at-risk dose. On our research linear accelerator, a set of four different CTV-to-PTV margins were tested for three patient cases subject to four different motion conditions. Based on this data, we can conclude that tracking eliminates dose cold spots which can occur in the CTV during conventional deliveries even for the smallest CTV-to-PTV margin of 1 mm. Changes of organ-at-risk dose do occur frequently during MLC tracking and are not negligible in some cases. Intrafractional dose reconstruction is expected to become an important element in any attempt of re-planning the treatment plan during the delivery based on the observed anatomy of the day.

An experimental evaluation of the Agility MLC for motion-compensated VMAT delivery.

An algorithm for dynamic multileaf-collimator (dMLC) tracking of a target performing a known a priori, rigid-body motion during volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), has been experimentally validated and applied to investigate the potential of the Agility (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden) multileaf-collimator (MLC) for use in motion-compensated VMAT delivery. For five VMAT patients, dosimetric measurements were performed using the Delta(4) radiation detector (ScandiDos, Uppsala, Sweden) and the accuracy of dMLC tracking was evaluated using a gamma-analysis, with threshold levels of 3% for dose and 3 mm for distance-to-agreement. For a motion trajectory with components in two orthogonal directions, the mean gamma-analysis pass rate without tracking was found to be 58.0%, 59.0% and 60.9% and was increased to 89.1%, 88.3% and 93.1% with MLC tracking, for time periods of motion of 4 s, 6 s and 10 s respectively. Simulations were performed to compare the efficiency of the Agility MLC with the MLCi MLC when used for motion-compensated VMAT delivery for the same treatment plans and motion trajectories. Delivery time increases from a static-tumour to dMLC-tracking VMAT delivery were observed in the range 0%­20% for the Agility, and 0%­57% with the MLCi, indicating that the increased leaf speed of the Agility MLC is beneficial for MLC tracking during lung radiotherapy.

Comparison of deliverable IMRT and VMAT for spine metastases using a simultaneous integrated boost.

OBJECTIVE: To effectively treat spine metastases, significant dose must be delivered to regions surrounding the spinal cord. We present a study comparing both step-and-shoot intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) techniques to deliver a concomitant hypofractionated prescription dose to the diseased region and to the involved vertebrae. METHODS: Seven-field IMRT and a single arc VMAT were inversely planned on five (two cervical and three thoracic) spinal metastatic patients. Planning target volumes PTVm (macroscopic) and PTVe (elective involved vertebrae) and associated organs at risk were localised. Mean doses of 35 Gy to PTVm and 20 Gy to PTVe were prescribed in five fractions. Dose statistics, estimated delivery time and results of verification using Delta(4) (ScandiDos, Uppsala, Sweden) were compared. RESULTS: Deliverable plans were achieved with both IMRT and VMAT. The coverage to PTV was similar for both IMRT and VMAT (p=0.5) and the dose to the regions adjacent to the spinal cord was 1% higher with VMAT (p=0.04). The mean delivery time for VMAT was 3.5 min compared with 10.5 min for IMRT. Fewer monitor units were required to deliver IMRT than to deliver VMAT. The median (range) percentage of measured points with a γ-index <1 with 3%/3 mm was 100 (99.9-100)% for IMRT and 100 (88.5-100)% for VMAT. CONCLUSION: Both VMAT and IMRT can deliver the concomitant hypofractionated regime proposed, and both offer different benefits in dose delivery. IMRT is currently preferred for its superior pre-treatment verification results and shorter planning times. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This study explores the feasibility of delivering tumouricidal doses of radiation to metastatic spine disease in the vicinity of the spinal cord.

Paraspinal volumetric modulated arc therapy.

OBJECTIVES: The processes involved in the treatment of paraspinal tumours by volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) are described here by means of an illustrative case. METHODS: Az single anticlockwise arc from gantry angle 179° to 181° was constructed using SmartArc (Philips Radiation Oncology Systems, Fitchburg, WI) with control points spaced at 2°. The dose prescription was 60 Gy in 30 fractions to cover the planning target volume (PTV) as uniformly as possible while sparing the 0.3-cm planning risk volume (PRV) around the spinal cord. The plan was verified before treatment using a diode array phantom and radiochromic film. Treatment delivery was on a Synergy linear accelerator with a beam modulator head (Elekta Ltd, Crawley, UK). RESULTS: Homogeneous dose coverage of the PTV was achieved with a D(2%) of 62.0 Gy and D(98%) of 55.6 Gy. Maximum spinal cord dose was 49.9 Gy to 0.1 cm(3) and maximum dose to the spinal cord PRV was 55.4 Gy to 0.1 cm(3). At pre-treatment verification, the percentage of the high-dose region receiving a dose within 3% and 3 mm of the planned dose was 98.8% with the diode array and 93.4% with film. Delivery time was 2 min 15 s and the course of treatment was successfully completed. CONCLUSIONS: VMAT was successfully planned, verified and delivered for this challenging tumour site. VMAT provides a very suitable method of treating complex paraspinal tumours, offering a high-quality conformal dose distribution with a short delivery time.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy planning for distal oesophageal malignancies.

OBJECTIVES: Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a novel form of intensity-modulated radiation therapy that allows the radiation dose to be delivered in a single gantry rotation using conformal or modulated fields. The capability of VMAT to reduce heart and cord dose, while maintaining lung receiving 20 Gy <20%, was evaluated for chemoradiation for oesophageal cancer. METHODS: An optimised forward-planned four-field arrangement was compared with inverse-planned coplanar VMAT arcs with 35 control points for 10 patients with lower gastro-oesophageal tumours prescribed 54 Gy in 30 fractions. Conformal (cARC) and intensity-modulated (VMATi) arcs were considered. Plans were assessed and compared using the planning target volume (PTV) irradiated to 95% of the prescription dose (V95), volumes of lung irradiated to 20 Gy (V20), heart irradiated to 30 Gy (V30), spinal cord maximum dose and van't Riet conformation number (CN). The monitor units per fraction and delivery time were recorded for a single representative plan. RESULTS: VMATi provided a significant reduction in the heart V30 (31% vs 55%; p=0.02) with better CN (0.72 vs 0.65; p=0.01) than the conformal plan. The treatment delivery was 1 min 28 s for VMAT compared with 3 min 15 s. CONCLUSION: For similar PTV coverage, VMATi delivers a lower dose to organs at risk than conformal plans in a shorter time, and this has warranted clinical implementation.

A 4 MV flattening filter-free beam: commissioning and application to conformal therapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy.

Recent studies have indicated that radiotherapy treatments undertaken on a flattening filter-free (FFF) linear accelerator have a number of advantages over treatments undertaken on a conventional linear accelerator. In addition, 4 MV photon beams may give improved isodose coverage for some treatment volumes at air/tissue interfaces, compared to when utilizing the clinical standard of 6 MV photons. In order to investigate these benefits, FFF beams were established on an Elekta Beam Modulator linear accelerator for 4 MV photons. Commissioning beam data were obtained for open and wedged fields. The measured data were then imported into a treatment planning system and a beam model was commissioned. The beam model was optimized to improve dose calculations at shallow, clinically relevant depths. Following verification, the beam model was utilized in a treatment planning study, including volumetric modulated arc therapy, for a selection of lung, breast/chest wall and larynx patients. Increased dose rates of around 800 MU min(-1) were recorded for open fields (relative to 320 MU min(-1) for filtered open fields) and reduced head scatter was inferred from output factor measurements. Good agreement between planned and delivered dose was observed in verification of treatment plans. The planning study indicated that with a FFF beam, equivalent (and in some cases improved) isodose profiles could be achieved for small lung and larynx treatment volumes relative to 4 MV filtered treatments. Furthermore, FFF treatments with wedges could be replicated using open fields together with an 'effective wedge' technique and isocentre shift. Clinical feasibility of a FFF beam was therefore demonstrated, with beam modelling, treatment planning and verification being successfully accomplished.

Direct-aperture optimization applied to selection of beam orientations in intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Direct-aperture optimization (DAO) was applied to iterative beam-orientation selection in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), so as to ensure a realistic segmental treatment plan at each iteration. Nested optimization engines dealt separately with gantry angles, couch angles, collimator angles, segment shapes, segment weights and wedge angles. Each optimization engine performed a random search with successively narrowing step sizes. For optimization of segment shapes, the filtered backprojection (FBP) method was first used to determine desired fluence, the fluence map was segmented, and then constrained direct-aperture optimization was used thereafter. Segment shapes were fully optimized when a beam angle was perturbed, and minimally re-optimized otherwise. The algorithm was compared with a previously reported method using FBP alone at each orientation iteration. An example case consisting of a cylindrical phantom with a hemi-annular planning target volume (PTV) showed that for three-field plans, the method performed better than when using FBP alone, but for five or more fields, neither method provided much benefit over equally spaced beams. For a prostate case, improved bladder sparing was achieved through the use of the new algorithm. A plan for partial scalp treatment showed slightly improved PTV coverage and lower irradiated volume of brain with the new method compared to FBP alone. It is concluded that, although the method is computationally intensive and not suitable for searching large unconstrained regions of beam space, it can be used effectively in conjunction with prior class solutions to provide individually optimized IMRT treatment plans.

Commissioning and quality assurance of the Pinnacle(3) radiotherapy treatment planning system for external beam photons.

The commissioning of a Pinnacle(3) treatment planning system is described. Four Elekta linear accelerators were commissioned for external beam photons. Measured data were used to derive parameter values for the Pinnacle(3) beam model by (1). fitting a Monte Carlo model of the accelerator head to measured data and then extracting the parameters for the Pinnacle(3) beam model, and by (2). using the auto-modelling facility within Pinnacle(3). Both of these methods yielded dose distributions in accord with published recommendations. A separate small-field beam model, customized for an in-house compact blocking system, was also created, which satisfied appropriate acceptance criteria for stereotactically guided conformal brain treatments. Inhomogeneous, oblique, asymmetrical and irregular fields were also assessed, with calculated and measured doses agreeing to within +/-3%. Dose-volume histogram calculation was found to be accurate to within +/-5% dose or volume for a grid size of 4 mm x 4 mm x 4 mm, with better accuracy being achieved for finer grids. Isocentric doses were compared between Pinnacle(3)'s collapsed cone convolution algorithm and the Bentley-Milan algorithm within the Target-2 treatment planning system. Dose differences were generally less than 3% in the dose prescribed, with larger values for breast plans, where the Pinnacle(3) algorithm calculated scatter more accurately. Pelvic and thoracic plans were also verified using an anthropomorphic phantom, with local dose differences between calculated and delivered dose of up to 8%, but mainly less than 3%, and with no systematic difference. Ionization chamber verifications using START and RT-01 trial procedures demonstrated differences between calculated and measured doses of less than 2%. Following satisfactory performance in the commissioning process, Pinnacle(3) has now been introduced into routine clinical use.

A comparison of conformal and intensity-modulated techniques for oesophageal radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the potential of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to reduce lung irradiation in the treatment of oesophageal carcinoma with radical radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A treatment planning study was performed to compare two-phase conformal radiotherapy (CFRT) with IMRT in five patients. The CFRT plans consisted of anterior, posterior and bilateral posterior oblique fields, while the IMRT plans consisted of either nine equispaced fields (9F), or four fields (4F) with orientations equal to the CFRT plans. IMRT plans with seven, five or three equispaced fields were also investigated in one patient. Treatment plans were compared using dose-volume histograms and normal tissue complication probabilities. RESULTS: The 9F IMRT plan was unable to improve on the homogeneity of dose to the planning target volume (PTV), compared with the CFRT plan (dose range, 16.9+/-4.5 (1 SD) vs. 12.4+/-3.9%; P=0.06). Similarly, the 9F IMRT plan was unable to reduce the mean lung dose (11.7+/-3.2 vs. 11.0+/-2.9 Gy; P=0.2). Similar results were obtained for seven, five and three equispaced fields in the single patient studied. The 4F IMRT plan provided comparable PTV dose homogeneity with the CFRT plan (11.8+/-3.3 vs. 12.4+/-3.9%; P=0.6), with reduced mean lung dose (9.5+/-2.3 vs 11.0+/-2.9 Gy; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: IMRT using nine equispaced fields provided no improvement over CFRT. This was because the larger number of fields in the IMRT plan distributed a low dose over the entire lung. In contrast, IMRT using four fields equal to the CFRT fields offered an improvement in lung sparing. Thus, IMRT with a few carefully chosen field directions may lead to a modest reduction in pneumonitis, or allow tumour dose escalation within the currently accepted lung toxicity.

Evaluation of the optimal co-planar field arrangement for use in the boost phase of dose escalated conformal radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal co-planar beam arrangement from a variety of three-field (3F), four-field (4F) and six-field (6F) plans for the boost phase of a dose escalated conformal radiotherapy schedule. Three selected plans (3F 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 270 degrees plan, 4F 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 270 degrees, 315 degrees plan and 6F 40 degrees, 90 degrees, 115 degrees, 245 degrees, 270 degrees, 320 degrees plan) were compared with reference plans (3F 0 degrees, 120 degrees, 240 degrees plan, 4F 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees plan, 6F 55 degrees, 90 degrees, 125 degrees, 235 degrees, 270 degrees, 305 degrees plan and 6F 50 degrees, 90 degrees, 130 degrees, 230 degrees, 270 degrees, 310 degrees plan) in 10 patients. Doses of 64 Gy and 74 Gy were prescribed to the isocentre using 6 MV photons. The boost planning target volume comprised the prostate gland alone without a margin. Plans were compared by means of rectal volumes irradiated to >50% (V50), >80% (V80) and >90% (V90) of the prescribed dose. Irradiated volumes were also measured for the bladder (V90) and the femoral heads (V70). All optimal 3F, 4F and 6F plans gave lower irradiated rectal V80 and V90 levels than their corresponding reference plan. The 3F (0 degrees, 90 degrees, 270 degrees) plan consistently provided lower irradiated rectal levels at V50 to V90, with acceptable bladder and femoral head doses compared with the other plans in the study. When the 6F (50 degrees, 90 degrees, 130 degrees, 230 degrees, 270 degrees, 310 degrees) plan used at our institution for the boost phase was compared with the 3F (0 degrees, 90 degrees, 270 degrees) plan, the rectal V50 was reduced from 20.8+/-5.2%, to 12.6+/-5.1%, the rectal V80 was reduced from 8.7+/-2.9% to 6.5+/-3.1% and the rectal V90 was reduced from 5.5+/-2.1% to 3.9+/-2.0% (all p<0.001). The bladder V90 and the femoral heads V70 levels were equivalent. For the boost phase when escalating the dose from 64 Gy to 74 Gy, the co-planar plan that allowed optimal rectal sparing was a 3F beam arrangement using gantry angles of 0 degrees, 90 degrees and 270 degrees. This 3F plan provided improved rectal sparing compared with the 6F (50 degrees, 90 degrees, 130 degrees, 230 degrees, 270 degrees, 310 degrees) beam arrangement currently used at our institution, with equivalent and acceptable bladder and femoral head doses.

A comparison of multileaf collimator with conformal blocks for the boost phase of dose-escalated conformal prostate radiotherapy.

A multileaf collimator (MLC) is compared with conformal blocks for delivering the boost phase of dose-escalated conformal prostate radiotherapy. When using conformal blocks, the volume of rectum irradiated to 90% (V90) is lower (1.4+/-1.3%, 1 SD) for a three-field plan with gantry angles 0 degree, 90 degrees, 270 degrees than for a six-field plan with gantry angles 50 degrees, 90 degrees, 130 degrees, 230 degrees, 270 degrees, 310 degrees (2.1 +/- 1.3%, P = 0.002). However, when using an MLC in which the leaves and wedge are oriented at right angles, V90 is higher (4.7 +/- 3.0%) for a three-field plan than for a six-field plan (2.7 +/- 1.6%, P=0.05). The larger increase in V90 for the three-field plan when changing from conformal blocks to MLC is mainly due to the limitation imposed upon the MLC orientation by the use of wedges.

A quantitative treatment planning study evaluating the potential of dose escalation in conformal radiotherapy of the oesophagus.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the reduction in radiation dose to normal thoracic structures through the use of conformal radiotherapy techniques in the treatment of oesophageal cancer, and to quantify the resultant potential for dose escalation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three different CT-derived treatment plans were created and compared for each of ten patients. A two-phase treatment with conventional straight-edged fields and standard blocks (CV2), a two-phase conformal plan (CF2), and a three-phase conformal plan where the third phase was delivered to the gross tumour only (CF3), were considered for each patient. Escalated dose levels were determined for techniques CF2 and CF3, which by virtue of the conformal field shaping, did not increase the mean lung dose. The resulting increase in tumour control probability (TCP) was estimated. RESULTS: A two-phase conformal technique (CF2) reduced the volume of lung irradiated to 18 Gy from 19.7+/-11.8 (1 SD) to 17.1+/-12.3% (P=0.004), and reduced the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) from 2.4+/-4.0 to 0.7+/-1.6% (P=0.02) for a standard prescribed dose of 55 Gy. Consequently, technique CF2 permitted a target dose of 59.1+/-3.2 Gy without increasing the mean lung dose. Technique CF3 facilitated a prescribed dose of 60.7+/-4.3 Gy to the target, the additional 5 Gy increasing the TCP from 53. 1+/-5.5 to 68.9+/-4.1%. When the spinal cord tolerance was raised from 45 to 48 Gy, technique CF3 allowed 63.6+/-4.l Gy to be delivered to the target, thereby increasing the TCP to 78.1+/-3.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Conformal radiotherapy techniques offer the potential for a 5-10 Gy escalation in dose delivered to the oesophagus, without increasing the mean lung dose. This is expected to increase local tumour control by 15-25%.

An evaluation of three-field coplanar plans for conformal radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A series of coplanar three-field configurations for two different clinical treatment volumes, prostate only (PO) and prostate plus seminal vesicles (PSV) were studied to determine the optimal three-field plan arrangement for prostate radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A variety of conformal three-field 6 MV plans prescribed to both 64 and 74 Gy were created for PO and PSV volumes in each of ten patients. For description, the orientation of each sequential beam was named in a clockwise fashion. Plans included series with arrangements of 0 degrees, 60-150 degrees, 210-300 degrees; 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 225-255 degrees; 90 degrees, 210-240 degrees, 300-330 degrees and a four-field (4F) box plan for comparison. Six-hundred and eighty plans were compared using the rectal volume irradiated to greater than 50% (V(50)), 80% (V(80)), and 90% (V(90)) of the prescribed dose, normal tissue complications (NTCP) for rectum, bladder, and femoral heads (FH), and tumour control probabilities (TCP). FH tolerance was set at 52 Gy to 10% volume. RESULTS: In comparing the 34 different three-field configurations for each of the PO and PSV groups, the greatest rectal sparing was achieved by a three-field plan with gantry angles of 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 270 degrees (PO: rectal V(80)=22.8+/-5.5% (1S.D.), V(90)=18.4+/-5.7%, and PSV: rectal V(80)=41.9+/-5.8%, V(90)=35.5+/-5.9%). This also improved on the 4F-box plan (PO: rectal V(80)=26.0+/-5.8%, V(90)=21.4+/-5.2%, P<0.001; and PSV: rectal V(80)=47.3+/-5.5%, V(90)=41.6+/-5.1%, P<0.001). The worst rectal sparing was seen with the 0 degrees, 120 degrees, 240 degrees plan (PO: rectal V(80)=35.2+/-8.0%, V(90)=30.3+/-7.1%, P<0.001; and PSV: rectal V(80)=65.7+/-9.0%, V(90)=58.8+/-8.8%, P<0.001). In the PO group, the increase in predicted rectal NTCP with dose escalation from 64 to 74 Gy was 3.3% using the 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 270 degrees plan, 4.7% with the 4F-box plan, and 6.9% with the 0 degrees, 120 degrees, 240 degrees plan. In the PSV group, dose escalation increased the predicted rectal NTCP by 7.9, 10.1 and 15.7% for the 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 270 degrees plan, 4F-box plan, and 0 degrees, 120 degrees, 240 degrees plan, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For both PO and PSV volumes, the three-field plan which afforded the greatest rectal sparing with acceptable bladder and femoral head doses was the 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 270 degrees plan. This plan also improved on the 4F-box. The increase in predicted rectal NTCP when escalating dose from 64 to 74 Gy was smaller using this plan compared to either the three-field 0 degrees, 120 degrees, 240 degrees plan or the 4F-box plan.

A Comparison of clinical target volumes determined by CT and MRI for the radiotherapy planning of base of skull meningiomas.

PURPOSE: To assess the utility of image registration and to compare the localization of clinical target volumes (CTV) using CT and MRI for patients with base of skull meningiomas undergoing radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Seven patients were imaged using CT and a T1-weighted MR volumetric sequence. Following image registration using a chamfer-matching algorithm, transaxial MR slices were reconstructed to match the planning CT slices. The accuracy of the image fusion was assessed in a preliminary study with matching accuracy better than 1.5 mm. The CTV in each patient was separately segmented by two independent observers for both CT and reconstructed MR image sets. Scalar and vector assessments were made of the difference in radial extent between the two outlines on each transaxial plane for all patients. A positive vector value corresponded to a greater extension of the tumor on MR compared to CT and vice versa. Scalar measurements compared the modulus of the differences between MR and CT, regardless of which volume was more extensive. Qualitative comparisons were also performed. RESULTS: Interobserver difference was small with a mean (+/- 1SD) volume difference of 1.5 +/- 1.5 cm(3) for CT and 0.5 +/- 1.0 cm(3) for MRI. The mean CT- and MR- CTVs were 17.6 +/-10.8 and 19.6 +/-14.2 cm(3) respectively. The mean overlap and composite volumes were 13.8 +/-10. 1 and 23.3 +/-14.8 cm(3) respectively. Average scalar differences in the left, right, anterior, and posterior directions were 6.0 +/- 7.0, 3.3 +/- 2.5, 4.9 +/- 3.9, and 4.5 +/- 5.0 mm respectively. The average vector differences were 3.3 +/- 8.5, -0.3 +/- 3.8, 1.1 +/- 5. 8, 1.5 +/- 6.4 mm (for left, right, anterior, and posterior directions respectively). Qualitatively, MR appeared to discern more tumor involvement in soft tissue regions adjacent to the skull base whereas CT appeared to provide larger target volumes within bony regions. CONCLUSIONS: MRI appeared to define CTVs that were larger but not inclusive of CT-defined CTVs. Although the average vector differences were small, the differences on individual borders could be large. In some instances, the CT or MR volumes were vastly different, each providing separate information. Therefore, the use of MRI and CT is complementary. Until accurate histological confirmation of disease extent is available, it is prudent to consider composite CT/MR volumes for the radiotherapy planning of base of skull meningiomas.

Optimization of coplanar six-field techniques for conformal radiotherapy of the prostate.

PURPOSE: To determine the optimal coplanar treatment technique for six-field conformal radiotherapy of prostate only (PO) or prostate plus seminal vesicles (PSV). METHODS AND MATERIALS: A series of 6-MV six-field coplanar treatment plans were created for PO and PSV volumes in 10 patients prescribed to both 64 and 74 Gy. All plans consisted of laterally-symmetric anterior oblique, lateral, and posterior oblique fields. The posterior oblique fields were varied through 20-45 degrees relative to the lateral fields, and for each of these angles, the anterior oblique fields were varied through 25-65 degrees relative to lateral. The plans were compared by means of rectal volumes irradiated to 80% or more of the prescribed dose (V80); normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for rectum, bladder, and femoral heads; and tumor control probability (TCP). Femoral head tolerance was designated as 52 Gy to no more than 10% volume. RESULTS: For the PO group, anterior oblique fields at 50 degrees from lateral and posterior oblique fields at 25 degrees from lateral produced the lowest V80, together with femoral head doses which were appropriate for most patients (V80 = 24.4+/-5.3% [1 SD]). Compared to a commonly-used six-field (reference) plan with both anterior and posterior oblique fields at 35 degrees from lateral (V80 = 26.3+/-5.9%), this represented an improvement (p = 0.001). For the PSV group, the optimal anterior and posterior oblique fields were at 65 degrees and 30 degrees from lateral, respectively (V80 = 47.5+/-6.3%). Relative to the reference plan (V80 = 49.4+/-5.6%), this was a marginal improvement (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: The optimized six-field plans provide increased rectal sparing at both standard and escalated doses. Moreover, the gain in TCP resulting from dose escalation can be achieved with a smaller increase in rectal NTCP using the optimized six-field plans.

Improved methods for adding transaxial two-dimensional margins to the superior and inferior regions of a clinical target volume.

When adding laminar or 2-D margins to the clinical target volume (CTV), additional borders are required superiorly and inferiorly. Two common strategies for adding these margins, the cylindrical method (CYL) and the chamfer method (CHR), are discussed, and improved 2-D methods are presented. The improved cylindrical method (ICYL) extends the PTV superiorly and inferiorly, but the uppermost and lowermost PTV outlines are limited laterally to the extent of the CTV. If the required 3-D margin is M, the improved chamfer method (ICHR) constructs a transaxial margin of the square root of M2-d2 on a CT plane which is a distance d above the most superior CTV outline. For a theoretical tumor, CYL and CHR overestimate and underestimate the superior target margin by 8.1 cm3 and 9.6 cm3, respectively, whereas ICYL overestimates by only 2.2 cm3 and ICHR provides the desired margin. For eight esophageal tumors (specified margin 20 mm), CHR systematically underestimates the margin on the slice immediately inferior to the CTV by 7 mm (median, range 7-27 mm, p<0.01), while CYL overestimates the margin two slices inferior to the CTV by 20 mm in all cases. ICYL removes the overestimation of CYL, but retains an overestimation of 3 (-17-3) mm (p<0.01) on the first slice inferior to the CTV. ICHR performs most accurately, the margin width being equal to that of a true 3-D margin, except for occasional underestimations (0-33 mm, p<0.01). Similar results are demonstrated for eight prostatic tumors (specified margin 10 or 15 mm), but with the more irregular tumor shape causing all 2-D methods to underestimate the margin, most notably by 4.5 (0-21) mm (p<0.01) on the inferior CTV slice for a 15-mm margin. In general, both improved 2-D methods produce significantly more accurate margins than the conventional methods, the margin produced by the improved chamfer method most closely approximating a true 3-D margin.

Comparison of intensity-modulated tomotherapy with stereotactically guided conformal radiotherapy for brain tumors.

PURPOSE: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) offers the potential to more closely conform dose distributions to the target, and spare organs at risk (OAR). Its clinical value is still being defined. The present study aims to compare IMRT with stereotactically guided conformal radiotherapy (SCRT) for patients with medium size convex-shaped brain tumors. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Five patients planned with SCRT were replanned with the IMRT-tomotherapy method using the Peacock system (Nomos Corporation). The planning target volume (PTV) and relevant OAR were assessed, and compared relative to SCRT plans using dose statistics, dose-volume histograms (DVH), and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) stereotactic radiosurgery criteria. RESULTS: The median and mean PTV were 78 cm3 and 85 cm3 respectively (range 62-119 cm3). The differences in PTV doses for the whole group (Peacock-SCRT +/-1 SD) were 2%+/-1.8 (minimum PTV), and 0.1%+/-1.9 (maximum PTV). The PTV homogeneity achieved by Peacock was 12.1%+/-1.7 compared to 13.9%+/-1.3 with SCRT. Using RTOG guidelines, Peacock plans provided acceptable PTV coverage for all 5/5 plans compared to minor coverage deviations in 4/5 SCRT plans; acceptable homogeneity index for both plans (Peacock = 1.1 vs. SCRT = 1.2); and comparable conformity index (1.4 each). As a consequence of the transaxial method of arc delivery, the optic nerves received mean and maximum doses that were 11.1 to 11.6%, and 10.3 to 15.2% higher respectively with Peacock plan. The maximum optic lens, and brainstem dose were 3.1 to 4.8% higher, and 0.6% lower respectively with Peacock plan. However, all doses remained below the tolerance threshold (5 Gy for lens, and 50 Gy for optic nerves) and were clinically acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The Peacock method provided improved PTV coverage, albeit small, in this group of convex tumors. Although the OAR doses were higher using the Peacock plans, all doses remained within the clinically defined threshold and were clinically acceptable. Further improvements may be expected using other methods of IMRT planning that do not limit the treatment delivery to transaxial arcs. Each IMRT system needs to be individually assessed as the paradigm utilized may provide different outcomes.

Comparison of a multi-leaf collimator with conformal blocks for the delivery of stereotactically guided conformal radiotherapy.

Stereotactically-guided conformal radiotherapy is a practical technique for irradiating irregular lesions in the brain. The shaping of the conformal fields may be achieved using lead alloy blocks, a conventional multi-leaf collimator (MLC) or a mini/micro-MLC. Although the former gives more precise shaping, it is labour intensive. The latter methods are more practical as both mould room and treatment room times are reduced, but the shaping is limited by the finite leaf-width. This study compares treatment plans, in terms of normal tissue doses and tumour coverage, for fields shaped using conformal blocks and a conventional MLC in two series of geometrical shapes and nine patient tumours. For the range of tumour sizes considered (volumes 14-264 cm3, minimum dimension 30 mm, maximum 102 mm), the MLC treats, on average, 14% (range 3-34%) and 17% (range 0-36%) more normal brain tissue than conformal blocks to >50% and >80% of the prescription dose, respectively. The large variability is due to strong dependence on tumour shape and the presence of partial leaf-widths in the MLC fit. It is therefore important to consider both of these effects when deciding whether the MLC is appropriate for a particular target volume.

A comparison of coplanar four-field techniques for conformal radiotherapy of the prostate.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conformal radiotherapy of the prostate is an increasingly common technique, but the optimal choice of beam configuration remains unclear. This study systematically compares a number of coplanar treatment plans for four-field irradiation of two different clinical treatment volumes: prostate only (PO) and the prostate plus seminal vesicles (PSV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A variety of four-field coplanar treatment plans were created for PO and PSV volumes in each of ten patients. Plans included a four-field 'box' plan, a symmetric plan having bilateral anterior and posterior oblique fields, a plan with anterior oblique and lateral fields, a series of asymmetric plans, and a three-field plan having anterior and bilateral fields for comparison. Doses of 64 and 74 Gy were prescribed to the isocentre. Plans were compared using the volume of rectum irradiated to greater than 50% (V50), 80% (V80) and 90% (V90) of the prescribed dose. Tumour control probabilities (TCP) and normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) for the rectum, bladder and femoral heads were also evaluated. Femoral head dose was limited such that less than 10% of each femoral head received 70% of the prescribed dose. RESULTS: For the PO group, the optimal plan consisted of anterior oblique and lateral fields (Rectal V80 = 23.8+/-5.0% (1 SD)), while the box technique (V80 = 26.0+/-5.8%) was less advantageous in terms of rectal sparing (P = 0.001). Similar results were obtained for the PSV group (Rectal V80 = 43.9+/-5.0% and 47.3+/-5.5% for the two plan types, respectively, P = 0.001). The three-field plan was comparable to the optimal four-field plan but gave higher superficial body dose. With dose escalation from 64 to 74 Gy, the mean TCP for the optimal plan rose from 52.0+/-2.8% to 74.1+/-2.0%. Meanwhile, rectal NTCP for the optimal plan rose by 3.5% (PO) or 8.4% (PSV), compared to 4.7% (PO) or 10.1% (PSV) for the box plan. CONCLUSIONS: For PO volumes, a plan with gantry angles of 35 degrees, 90 degrees, 270 degrees and 325 degrees offers a high level of rectal sparing and acceptable dose to the femoral heads for all patients, while for PSV volumes, the corresponding plan has gantry angles of 20 degrees, 90 degrees , 270 degrees and 340 degrees. Using these plans, the gain in TCP resulting from dose escalation can be achieved with a smaller increase in anticipated rectal NTCP.