ABSTRACT
Three-dimensional treatment planning with delivery of conformal radiotherapy has been demonstrated to improve tumor targeting and to reduce normal tissue volume exposed in several studies of malignancies in adults. Furthermore, institutional clinical protocols have accomplished escalation of radiation dose with enhanced treatment efficacy and stable to decreased late effects in patients with prostate carcinoma. In the treatment of malignancies in children, there are several aspects of therapy which may be particularly amenable to improvement with three-dimensional treatment planning. First, the occurrence of large, irregular tumor volumes close to critical normal structures is common in solid tumors in children. The acquisition of detailed computerized tomography (CT) images at the time of simulation, along with the use of three-dimensional reconstruction and beam's-eye-view capabilities, should greatly improve tumor targeting and allow more selective blocking of normal structures. In addition, the enhanced sensitivity of developing organs and tissues to radiation in combination with high expectations for overall survival with current treatment programs has resulted in greater awareness of the late effects of treatment. Today, the goal of pediatric radiotherapy is to provide high rates of local tumor control without significant late effects, such as impairment of growth and development and injury to organ function. The use of conformal radiotherapy is likely to be an important advance in realizing this goal. The ability to use novel beam arrangements and to evaluate radiotherapy treatment plans with quantitative tools, such as dose-volume histogram analysis or probabilities of normal tissue complications, should enable the use of treatment programs with a lessened risk of late effects. However, the rarity of pediatric tumors is unlikely to permit a controlled trial of conformal compared to conventional therapy. In this article, we use three case illustrations to demonstrate and discuss the potential advantages of conformal radiotherapy in the treatment of childhood cancer.
