Transperineal ultrasound for aiding target volume delineation and monitoring during prostate cancer radiotherapy in men with bilateral hip prostheses

Author(s):  
Serena Jayne Hilman ◽  
Thomas Bird ◽  
Piotr Gieryluk ◽  
Amy Richardson ◽  
Petra Jacobs

Abstract Aims: To investigate the use of co-registration of the computerised tomography (CT) planning scan with transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) as an aid to the delineation of the clinical target volume (CTV), and the use of TPUS as a tool for inter- and intra-fractional monitoring in men with bilateral hip prostheses (b-P) undergoing prostate radiotherapy. Materials and methods: We marked the CTV of three patients with and without the co-registered TPUS images. A metal artefact reduction algorithm was utilised. Two patients were treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and one with volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). The inter- and intra-fractional monitoring details were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Clinician marking with TPUS/CT fusion improved the confidence of prostate CTV delineation leading to a consistent change in volumes across two observers. Inter- and intra-fractional monitoring was possible using TPUS as image guidance, as it is for those patients with non-prosthetic hips. Findings: Using TPUS in the radiotherapy workflow has enabled us to more confidently plan, treat and monitor patients with b-HP. Due to transperineal image acquisition, the ultrasound images are not affected by the presence of hip prostheses, which are outside the field of view.

Author(s):  
Dean Wilkinson ◽  
Kelly Mackie ◽  
Dean Novy ◽  
Frances Beaven ◽  
Joanne McNamara ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: The Pinnacle3 Auto-Planning (AP) package is an automated inverse planning tool employing a multi-sequence optimisation algorithm. The nature of the optimisation aims to improve the overall quality of radiotherapy plans but at the same time may produce higher modulation, increasing plan complexity and challenging linear accelerator delivery capability. Methods and materials: Thirty patients previously treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to the prostate with or without pelvic lymph node irradiation were replanned with locally developed AP techniques for step-and-shoot IMRT (AP-IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (AP-VMAT). Each case was also planned with VMAT using conventional inverse planning. The patient cohort was separated into two groups, those with a single primary target volume (PTV) and those with dual PTVs of differing prescription dose levels. Plan complexity was assessed using the modulation complexity score. Results: Plans produced with AP provided equivalent or better dose coverage to target volumes whilst effectively reducing organ at risk (OAR) doses. For IMRT plans, the use of AP resulted in a mean reduction in bladder V50Gy by 4·2 and 4·7 % (p ≤ 0·01) and V40Gy by 4·8 and 11·3 % (p < 0·01) in the single and dual dose level cohorts, respectively. For the rectum, V70Gy, V60Gy and V40Gy were all reduced in the dual dose level AP-VMAT plans by an average of 2·0, 2·7 and 7·3 % (p < 0·01), respectively. A small increase in plan complexity was observed only in dual dose level AP plans. Findings: The automated nature of AP led to high quality treatment plans with improvement in OAR sparing and minimised the variation in achievable dose planning metrics when compared to the conventional inverse planning approach.


2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-139
Author(s):  
Osamu Tanaka ◽  
Kousei Ono ◽  
Takuya Taniguchi ◽  
Chiyoko Makita ◽  
Masayuki Matsuo

Abstract Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has been used for breast cancer as well as in field-in-field techniques. Few dosimetric comparison studies have been conducted using IMRT and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for Japanese patients. We aimed to study such patients. Thirty-two patients with left-sided breast cancer were enrolled. We conducted the following five treatment plans: two field-static IMRT (2F-S-IMRT), four field-static IMRT (4F-S-IMRT), 40° dual partial arc VMAT (40d-VMAT), 80° dual partial arc VMAT (80d-VMAT) and 210° partial VMAT (210p-VMAT). We evaluated the following: level of coverage of planning target volume (PTV) of 95% for irradiation at a dose of 50 Gy (D95) and the percentage of the heart and left anterior descending artery (LAD) volume that received 10 Gy or more (V10). As a result, the coverage of 40d-VMAT for the prescribed PTV dose of D95 was significantly lower than that of the other treatment plans (P &lt; 0.05). Regarding heart V10 and LAD V10, 2F-S-IMRT, 40d-VMAT and 80d-VMAT showed significantly lower dose than the other treatment plans (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, among the five plans, 2F-S-IMRT is recommended for Japanese patients because of high coverage of D95 of PTV, low V10 of the heart and LAD and the monitor unit value was the lowest.


Author(s):  
Karthikeyan Kalyanasundaram ◽  
Subramani Vellaiyan

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of changes in breathing pattern inside the breath-hold window (BHW) during deep inspiration breath hold treatment for carcinoma left breast patients post-conservative surgery. Methods: Ten patients of carcinoma left breast post-conservative surgery were prospectively selected. Three sets of CT plain images were acquired, one with 5 mm deep inspiration BHW (DIBHR) and the other one with 1 mm BHW matching the lower threshold (DIBHL) and the third one with 1 mm BHW matching the upper threshold (DIBHH) as DIBHR. For all patients, forward intensity-modulated radiotherapy (FIMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were generated in the 5 mm BHW CT series and the same plan being copy and pasted in other series. Target volume doses and critical structure doses were tabulated. Results: Planning target volume coverage was adequate and no significant differences were found in any CT series. Significant differences noted in average left lung V5%, V10% and V18% doses between DIBHR versus DIBHH (p values = 0·0461, 0·0283 and 0·0213, respectively) and DIBHL versus DIBHH (p values = 0·0434, 0·0484 and 0·0334, respectively) for FIMRT plans and V18% doses in DIBHR versus DIBHH (p = 0·0067) in VMAT. No differences in heart and apex of heart doses were found. Left anterior descending artery (LAD) mean doses were significant in DIBHL versus DIBHR, DIBHR versus DIBHH and DIBHL versus DIBHH (p = 0·0012, 0·0444 and 0·0048, respectively) series for FIMRT plans and DIBHR versus DIBHH and DIBHL versus DIBHH (p = 0·0341, 0·0001) for VMAT plans. Finding: The changes in the breathing pattern inside DIBH window level cause some variation in LAD doses and no other significant differences in any parameters noted, so care should be taken while treating patients with preexisting cardiac conditions.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Coen A.A. Windmeijer ◽  
Arjan Bel ◽  
Rianne de Jong ◽  
Brian V. Balgobind ◽  
Marianne C. Aznar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) enables high precision tumor treatment with potential for sparing healthy tissues. The value of pediatric IGRT is widely acknowledged, but there is no consensus on ‘best practice’. We aimed to assess clinical pediatric IGRT practice among European members of the Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society (PROS) and members of our project-based consortium.Methods A survey addressing radiotherapy preparation, planning and delivery in seven treatment sites was sent to European PROS members and/or our IGRT project-based consortium (70 institutes). Responses were collected from June-September 2018.Results Of the 42 responding institutes (response rate 60%), 33 indicated to treat children. 28/33 are photon-only institutes, 3/33 are dedicated proton (‘proton-only’) institutes and 2/33 use both. Immobilization includes facial masks (in 100% of brain, craniospinal axis (CSA) and head-and-neck (H&N) treatments), and vacuum cushions (all sites, except brain and H&N). Intensity-modulated radiotherapy and volumetric-modulated arc therapy are most frequently applied ranging from 71%-81% in respectively CSA (20/28), and extremities (21/26), followed by 3D conformal radiotherapy ranging from 36%-69% in respectively H&N (10/28), and extremities (18/26). Isotropic planning target volume (PTV) margins varied widely in brain and abdomen (range, 1-10mm). The use of in-room kilovolt cone-beam computed tomography ranges from 57%-86% in respectively CSA (16/28), and thorax (24/28). Daily online imaging is used by the majority of institutes, ranging from 85%-90% in respectively extremities (22/26) and pelvis (27/30). Offline imaging protocols are used by 14%-21% in respectively H&N (4/28) and thorax (6/28).Conclusions Our survey shows comparable practice in pre-treatment imaging, planning and treatment techniques, and IGRT application among the participating European institutes. However, wide ranges in PTV margin sizes exist, supporting the need to define international ‘best practice’ guidelines for pediatric IGRT, and to aim for consensus on optimal margin definitions in view of available IGRT facilities and workflows among institutes.


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