scholarly journals Evaluation of plan robustness on the dosimetry of volumetric arc radiotherapy (VMAT) with set-up uncertainty in Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) radiotherapy

2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Ding ◽  
Xiaoyong Xiang ◽  
Qi Zeng ◽  
Jun Ma ◽  
Zhitao Dai ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the sensitivity to set up the uncertainty of VMAT plans in Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment by proposing a plan robustness evaluation method. Methods 10 patients were selected for this study. A 2-arc volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan was generated for each patient using Varian Eclipse (13.6 Version) treatment planning system (TPS). 5 uncertainty plans (U-plans) were recalculated based on the first 5 times set-up errors acquired from cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT). The dose differences of the original plan and perturbed plan corresponded to the plan robustness for the structure. Tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissues complication probability (NTCP) were calculated for biological evaluation. Results The mean dose differences of D98% and D95% (ΔD98% and ΔD95%) of PTVp were respectively 3.30 Gy and 2.02 Gy. The ΔD98% and ΔD95% of CTVp were 1.12 Gy and 0.58 Gy. The ΔD98% and ΔD95% of CTVn were 1.39 Gy and 1.03 Gy, distinctively lower than those in PTVn (2.8 Gy and 2.0 Gy). The CTV-to-PTV margin increased the robustness of CTVs. The ΔD98% and ΔD95% of GTVp were 0.56 Gy and 0.33 Gy. GTVn exhibited strong robustness with little variation of D98% (0.64 Gy) and D95% (0.39 Gy). No marked mean dose variations of Dmean were seen. The mean reduction of TCP (ΔTCP) in GTVp and CTVp were respectively 0.4% and 0.3%. The mean ΔTCPs of GTVn and CTVn were 0.92% and 1.3% respectively. The CTV exhibited the largest ΔTCP (2.2%). In OARs, the brain stem exhibited weak robustness due to their locations in the vicinity of PTV. Bilateral parotid glands were sensitive to set-up uncertainty with a mean reduction of NTCP (ΔNTCP) of 6.17% (left) and 7.70% (right). The Dmax of optical nerves and lens varied slightly. Conclusion VMAT plans had a strong sensitivity to set-up uncertainty in NPC radiotherapy, with increasing risk of underdose of tumor and overdose of vicinal OARs. We proposed an effective method to evaluate the plan robustness of VMAT plans. Plan robustness and complexity should be taken into account in photon radiotherapy.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Ding ◽  
Xiaoyong Xiang ◽  
Qi Zeng ◽  
Jun Ma ◽  
Zhitao Dai ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the set-up sensitivity of VMAT plans for Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment by proposing a plan robustness evaluation method. Methods: 10 patients were selected for this study. A 2-arc volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan was generated for each patient using Varian Eclipse (13.6 Version) treatment planning system (TPS). 5 uncertainty plans (U-plans) were calculated based on the first 5 times set-up errors acquired from cone beam comuter tomography (CBCT). The dose differences and plan robustness of all the PTVs, CTVs, GTVs, and organs at risk (OARs) were analyzed. Tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissues complication probability (NTCP) were calculated for biological evaluation. Results: The mean dose differences of D98 and D95 (△D98 and△D95) of PTVnx were respectively 3.30 Gy and 2.02 Gy. The △D98 and△D95 of CTVnx were 1.12 Gy and 0.58 Gy. The △D98 and△D95 of GTVnx were 0.56 Gy and 0.33 Gy. The dose coverage of GTVnx and CTVnx was guaranteed with minor dose variation. GTVnd exhibited strong robustness with little variation of D98 (0.5%) and D95 (0.9%). The △D98 and△D95 of CTVnd were 1.39 Gy and 1.03 Gy, distinctively lower than those in PTVnd (2.8 Gy and 2.0 Gy). No marked mean dose variations of Dmean were seen. The mean reduction of TCP (△TCP) in GTVnx and CTVnx were respectively 0.4% and 0.3%. The mean △TCP of GTVnd and CTVnd were 0.92 % and 1.3 % respectively. The CTV exhibited the largest △TCP (2.2 %). In OARs, the optical nerve chiasma was the one with the highest change, with a mean dose variation of 8.81 Gy. The Dmean of bilateral parotids varied in a large range. The mean reduction of NTCP (△NTCP) in the left parotid gland was 13.30%, which sharply increased the risk of parotid gland dysfunction. Conclusion: VMAT plans had a strong sensitivity to set-up uncertainty in NPC radiotherapy, due to the high degree of modulation. We proposed an effective method to evaluate the plan robustness of VMAT plans. Plan robustness and complexity should be taken into account in photon radiotherapy.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terman Frometa-Castillo ◽  
Anil Pyakuryal ◽  
Ganesh Narayanasamy ◽  
Asghar Mesbahi

Abstract Aim Academic dissemination of the “SMp treatment planning system (TPS)” for external beam radiotherapy, which has been developed as a software function that could meet the definition of a device with an entirely new intended use. This system will have new paradigms in the effectiveness and side-effect (S-E) evaluation sections, where tumor control probability (TCP) is calculated with computational simulations instead of current analytical TCP models; and S-E is evaluated with the normal tissue non-complication probability (NTCP0) methodology instead of standard NTCP one. Methods Use of probabilistic foundations in the NTCP0 methodologies; and computational simulations of the interactions of ionizing radiation with the tumor tissues in the radiation oncology treatments for the TCP calculations. Results The "TCPsim" and “NTCP0cal” calculation modules of the SMp TPS, which calculate respectively TCP and NTCP0. Conclusions While the "NTCP0cal" application has unquestionable probabilistic foundations associated to normal tissue complications as a stochastic process with more than one outcome; the "TCPsim" is based on proper approaches that are result of the computational simulations that follow logic-probabilistic procedures, and probabilistic aspects, like the relationship between TCP and linear-quadratic cell survival model for a fraction with dose d.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolong HUA ◽  
Jianhe YU ◽  
Lu WANG ◽  
Jiaqi DAI ◽  
Qun REN ◽  
...  

Abstract PurposeTo study the influence of Monaco 5.4 treatment planning system (TPS) on the dosimetry of radiotherapy for nasopharynx carcinoma (NPC) under the condition of different segment shape optimization (SSO) times.MethodsFifteen patients with T3-4N0-2M0 stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma were enrolled, and each case was designed with SSO of 3, 5, 7 and 10 times respectively. The dose results of the target area and the major organs at risk (OAR) were statistically analyzed by DVH statistics; moreover, the isodose lines of 70Gy, 60Gy and 54Gy were intercepted at the same plane in the transverse, coronal and sagittal views and the segment shapes were compared at the angle of 30°, 120°, 240° and 330° in beam eye view (BEV); In addition, optimization time (OT), delivery time (DT), segments# and MU# were obtained and analyzed by optimization console; the plans were verified and analyzed by using ArcCheck phantom.ResultsFor target area D2, the results of the SSO7 group and the SSO10 group were similar and both better than those of SSO3 and SSO5 groups, and the D2 results of the SSO3 group were notable higher than those of the other three groups; for the major OARs, the results of the maximum dose of spinal cord, brain stem, and lens and the mean dose and V30 of parotid glands showed the same trend. It showed that SSO7 and SSO10 share similar dose results, too which are notable better than the similar dose results shared by SSO3 and SSO5; in the dose deprogram distribution of 70Gy, 60Gy and 54Gy, partial 70Gy dose spillover occurred in both groups SSO3 and SSO5 and it was more obvious in group SSO3. While there was a no significant dose spillover in group SSO7 and group SSO10; in the sub-field alignment comparison under the same angle, the alignment became more complicated and the sub-fields were smaller as the number of SSO increased; the results of segment#, MU# and plan delivery time between different SSO groups were slightly different, while the plan optimization time changed significantly. The difference between group SSO3 and group SSO10 was more than 500s; the results were compared in ArcCheck, there was no significant difference between the groups.ConclusionsThe user-defined SSO function of Monaco 5.4 TPS effectively balances the relationship between plan design efficiency and plan quality. When SSO is 7, it is better value for efficiency and quality in clinical radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.


2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (5) ◽  
pp. 1473-1479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Young Han ◽  
He Wang ◽  
Dershan Luo ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Xin Wang

OBJECTIVEFor patients with multiple large brain metastases with at least 1 target volume larger than 10 cm3, multifractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (MF-SRS) has commonly been delivered with a linear accelerator (LINAC). Recent advances of Gamma Knife (GK) units with kilovolt cone-beam CT and CyberKnife (CK) units with multileaf collimators also make them attractive choices. The purpose of this study was to compare the dosimetry of MF-SRS plans deliverable on GK, CK, and LINAC and to discuss related clinical issues.METHODSTen patients with 2 or more large brain metastases who had been treated with MF-SRS on LINAC were identified. The median planning target volume was 18.31 cm3 (mean 21.31 cm3, range 3.42–49.97 cm3), and the median prescribed dose was 27.0 Gy (mean 26.7 Gy, range 21–30 Gy), administered in 3 to 5 fractions. Clinical LINAC treatment plans were generated using inverse planning with intensity modulation on a Pinnacle treatment planning system (version 9.10) for the Varian TrueBeam STx system. GK and CK planning were retrospectively performed using Leksell GammaPlan version 10.1 and Accuray Precision version 1.1.0.0 for the CK M6 system. Tumor coverage, Paddick conformity index (CI), gradient index (GI), and normal brain tissue receiving 4, 12, and 20 Gy were used to compare plan quality. Net beam-on time and approximate planning time were also collected for all cases.RESULTSPlans from all 3 modalities satisfied clinical requirements in target coverage and normal tissue sparing. The mean CI was comparable (0.79, 0.78, and 0.76) for the GK, CK, and LINAC plans. The mean GI was 3.1 for both the GK and the CK plans, whereas the mean GI of the LINAC plans was 4.1. The lower GI of the GK and CK plans would have resulted in significantly lower normal brain volumes receiving a medium or high dose. On average, GK and CK plans spared the normal brain volume receiving at least 12 Gy and 20 Gy by approximately 20% in comparison with the LINAC plans. However, the mean beam-on time of GK (∼ 64 minutes assuming a dose rate of 2.5 Gy/minute) plans was significantly longer than that of CK (∼ 31 minutes) or LINAC (∼ 4 minutes) plans.CONCLUSIONSAll 3 modalities are capable of treating multiple large brain lesions with MF-SRS. GK has the most flexible workflow and excellent dosimetry, but could be limited by the treatment time. CK has dosimetry comparable to that of GK with a consistent treatment time of approximately 30 minutes. LINAC has a much shorter treatment time, but residual rotational error could be a concern.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Ren ◽  
Shou-Ping Xu ◽  
Lei Du ◽  
Lin-Chun Feng ◽  
Bao-Lin Qu ◽  
...  

The goal of this study was to evaluate the actual anatomical and dosimetric changes of parotid glands in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients during intensity modulated radiation therapy. With helical tomotherapy, its planning system, and adaptive software, weekly anatomical and dosimetric changes of parotid glands in 35 NPC patients were evaluated. Interweekly parotid volume varied significantly (P<0.03). The rate of volume change reached the highest level at the 16th fraction. The averageV1increased by 32.2 (left) and 28.6 (right), and the averageD50increased by 33.9 (left) and 24.93 (right), respectively. Repeat data comparison indicated that theV1andD50varied significantly among different fractions (both withP=0.000). The variation of parotid volume was inversely correlated with that of theV1andD50(both withP=0.000). In conclusion, parotid volume and actual dose vary significantly in NPC patients during IMRT. Replanning at the end of the fourth week of IMRT may have clinical benefits.


Author(s):  
J. Avevor ◽  
S. N. A. Tagoe ◽  
J. H. Amuasi ◽  
J. J. Fletcher ◽  
I. Shirazu

Intracavitary brachytherapy procedures are used for cervical cancer treatment, by the insertion of radioactive implants directly into the diseased tissues. During the treatment process, the bladder together with surrounding tissues are exposed to radiations. Clinical complications do results from high doses received by parts of the bladder during intracavitary brachytherapy of the cervix. The aim of this study is to assess the dose delivered to the bladder using Gafchromic films and compare it with the optimized dose calculated by the Brachy Prowess 4.60 Treatment Planning System (TPS) reports for empirical validation and system verification. Fletcher suite applicators were used to perform thirty (30) different clinical insertions on the constructed cervix phantom and results evaluated. The mean difference between the doses calculated by the TPS and the doses measured by the Gafchromic film for the bladder at the distance of 0.5cm from the edge of the film was 16.3 % (range -35.33 to +39.37). At a distance of 1.5cm for the bladder, the mean difference was 19.4% (range -49.48 to +30.39). The TPS calculated maximum dose was typically higher than the measured maximum dose. However, in some cases, the measured doses were found to be higher than the doses calculated by the TPS. This is due to positional inaccuracies of the sources during treatment planning. It is recommended that in vivo dosimetry be performed in addition to computation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 153303382091571
Author(s):  
Yiwei Yang ◽  
Kainan Shao ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Ming Chen ◽  
Yuanyuan Chen ◽  
...  

Objective: To evaluate and quantify the planning performance of automatic planning (AP) with manual planning (MP) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the RayStation treatment planning system (TPS). Methods: A progressive and effective design method for AP of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was realized through automated scripts in this study. A total of 30 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma with initial treatment was enrolled. The target coverage, conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), organs at risk sparing, and the efficiency of design and execution were compared between automatic and manual volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans. Results: The results of the 2 design methods met the clinical dose requirement. The differences in D95 between the 2 groups in PTV1 and PTV2 showed statistical significance, and the MPs are higher than APs, but the difference in absolute dose was only 0.21% and 0.16%. The results showed that the conformity index of planning target volumes (PTV1, PTV2, PTVnd and PGTVnx+rpn [PGTVnx and PGTVrpn]), homogeneity index of PGTVnx+rpn, and HI of PTVnd in APs are better than that in MPs. For organs at risk, the APs are lower than the MPs, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < .05). The manual operation time in APs was 83.21% less than that in MPs, and the computer processing time was 34.22% more. Conclusion: IronPython language designed by RayStation TPS has clinical application value in the design of automatic radiotherapy plan for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The dose distribution of tumor target and organs at risk in the APs was similar or better than those in the MPs. The time of manual operation in the plan design showed a sharp reduction, thus significantly improving the work efficiency in clinical application.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayun Chen ◽  
Jianrong Dai ◽  
Ahmad Nobah ◽  
Sen Bai ◽  
Nan Bi ◽  
...  

PurposeThe aim of this work is to introduce the 2019 International Planning Competition and to analyze its results.Methods and materialsA locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) case using the simultaneous integrated boost approach was selected. The plan quality was evaluated by using a ranking system in accordance with practice guidelines. Planners used their clinical Treatment Planning System (TPS) to generate the best possible plan along with a survey, designed to obtain medical physics aspects information. We investigated the quality of the large population of plans designed by worldwide planners using different planning and delivery systems. The correlations of plan quality with relevant planner characteristics (work experience, department scale, and competition experience) and with technological parameters (TPS and modality) were examined.ResultsThe number of the qualified plans was 287 with a wide range of scores (38.61–97.99). The scores showed statistically significant differences by the following factors: 1) department scale: the mean score (89.76 ± 8.36) for planners from the departments treating &gt;2,000 patients annually was the highest of all; 2) competition experience: the mean score for the 107 planners with previous competition experience was 88.92 ± 9.59, statistically significantly from first-time participants (p = .001); 3) techniques: the mean scores for planners using VMAT (89.18 ± 6.43) and TOMO (90.62 ± 7.60) were higher than those using IMRT (82.28 ± 12.47), with statistical differences (p &lt;.001). The plan scores were negligibly correlated with the planner’s years of work experience or the type of TPS used. Regression analysis demonstrated that plan score was associated with dosimetric objectives that were difficult to achieve, which is generally consistent with a clinical practice evaluation. However, 51.2% of the planners abandoned the difficult component of total lung receiving a dose of 5 Gy in their plan design to achieve the optimal plan.ConclusionThe 2019 international planning competition was carried out successfully, and its results were analyzed. Plan quality was not correlated with work experiences or the TPS used, but it was correlated with department scale, modality, and competition experience. These findings differed from those reported in previous studies.


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