Impact of prescription isodose level and collimator selection on dose homogeneity and plan quality in robotic radiosurgery

Purpose In stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), prescription isodoses and resulting dose homogeneities vary widely across different platforms and clinical entities. Our goal was to investigate the physical limitations of generating dose distributions with an intended level of homogeneity in robotic SRS. Methods Treatment plans for non-isocentric irradiation of 4 spherical phantom targets (volume 0.27–7.70 ml) and 4 clinical targets (volume 0.50–5.70 ml) were calculated using Sequential (phantom) or VOLOTM (clinical) optimizers (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Dose conformity, volume of 12 Gy isodose (V12Gy) as a measure for dose gradient, and treatment time were recorded for different prescribed isodose levels (PILs) and collimator settings. In addition, isocentric irradiation of phantom targets was examined, with dose homogeneity modified by using different collimator sizes. Results Dose conformity was generally high (nCI ≤ 1.25) and varied little with PIL. For all targets and collimator sets, V12Gy was highest for PIL ≥ 80% and lowest for PIL ≤ 65%. The impact of PIL on V12Gy was highest for isocentric irradiation and lowest for clinical targets (VOLOTM optimization). The variability of V12Gy as a function of collimator selection was significantly higher than that of PIL. V12Gy and treatment time were negatively correlated. Plans utilizing a single collimator with a diameter in the range of 70–80% of the target diameter were fastest, but showed the strongest dependence on PIL. Conclusion Inhomogeneous dose distributions with PIL ≤ 70% can be used to minimize dose to normal tissue. PIL ≥ 90% is associated with a marked and significant increase in off-target dose exposure. Careful selection of collimators during planning is even more important.

Investigating dose homogeneity in radiotherapy of oral cancers in the presence of a dental implant system: an in vitro phantom study

Background Materials with high atomic numbers are part of the composition of dental implant systems. In radiotherapy of oral cavity cancers, an implant can cause dose perturbations that affect target definition, dose calculation, and dose distribution. In consequence, this may result in poor tumor control and higher complications. In this study, we evaluated dose homogeneity when a dental implant replaced a normal tooth. We also aimed to evaluate the concordance of dose calculations with dose measurements. Materials and methods In this study, 2 sets of planning CT scans of a phantom with a normal tooth and the same phantom with the tooth replaced by a Z1 TBR dental implant system were used. The implant system was composed of a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown and titanium with a zirconium collar. Three radiotherapy plans were designed when the density of the implant material was corrected to match their elements, or when all were set to the density of water, or when using the default density conversion. Gafchromic EBT-3 films at the level of isocenter and crowns were used for measurements. Results At the level of crowns, upstream and downstream dose calculations were reduced when metal kernels were applied (M-plan). Moreover, relatively measured dose distribution patterns were most similar to M-plan. At this level, relative to the non-implanted phantom, mean doses values were higher with the implant (215.93 vs. 192.25), also, new high-dose areas appeared around a low-dose streak forward to the implant (119% vs. 95%). Conclusions Implants can cause a high dose to the oral cavity in radiotherapy because of extra scattered radiation. Knowledge of the implant dimensions and defining their material enhances the accuracy of calculations.

A Monte Carlo Determination of Dose and Range Uncertainties for Preclinical Studies with a Proton Beam

Proton therapy (PRT) is an irradiation technique that aims at limiting normal tissue damage while maintaining the tumor response. To study its specificities, the ARRONAX cyclotron is currently developing a preclinical structure compatible with biological experiments. A prerequisite is to identify and control uncertainties on the ARRONAX beamline, which can lead to significant biases in the observed biological results and dose–response relationships, as for any facility. This paper summarizes and quantifies the impact of uncertainty on proton range, absorbed dose, and dose homogeneity in a preclinical context of cell or small animal irradiation on the Bragg curve, using Monte Carlo simulations. All possible sources of uncertainty were investigated and discussed independently. Those with a significant impact were identified, and protocols were established to reduce their consequences. Overall, the uncertainties evaluated were similar to those from clinical practice and are considered compatible with the performance of radiobiological experiments, as well as the study of dose–response relationships on this proton beam. Another conclusion of this study is that Monte Carlo simulations can be used to help build preclinical lines in other setups.

COMBINED IRRADIATION OF PELVIS AND INGUINALNODAL REGIONS USING MODIFIED SEGMENTAL BOOST TECHNIQUE: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY.

AIM: To describe a novel Modied Segmental Boost Technique (MSBT) for combined irradiation of pelvis and inguinal nodes and to compare the dosimetry of the new method with that of other traditional methods of radiation treatment and IMRT. Total 30 patients who required combined irradiation of pelvis and inguinal regi METHODS AND MATERIALS: ons are included in our study to illustrate details and advantages of MSBT. Conventional photons with enface electrons design was created rst with two opposing parallel elds and four eld box. MSBT plans are generated and patient is treated with this technique to TD 45-50Gy for 5-6 weeks duration. A step-and-shoot inverse IMRT planning was subsequently generated. For dosimetric comparison, these treatment techniques were evaluated by dose-volume histogram (DVH) of PTV and OARs. Dose proles at different depths from each treatment planning were generated for comparison. Comparing the modied segmental boost technique with conventional two oppos RESULTS: ing and four eld box technique, we have found out that the target coverage, dose homogeneity index (DHI) and femoral head sparing is superior in modied segmental boost technique compared to other conventional approaches. And also the patients had better clinical response of both primary and the nodes with minimal skin morbidity when compared with conventionally treated patients data. DHI and target coverage of MSBT was comparable with that of IMRT. CONCLUSION: To cover pelvis and inguinal/femoral nodes, MSBT is technically simple to simulate, plan, and execute. Dosimetric study has demonstrated that it achieves comparable PTV coverage compared with other approaches while at the same time signicantly sparing the surrounding OAR .It also has dose homogeneity comparable with IMRT and can be a nearer alternative for IMRT, in centers which are not having the facility and where the patient load is higher.

Acute toxicity of normofractionated intensity modulated radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost compared to three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy with sequential boost in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer

Background Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) improves dose homogeneity and late toxicity compared to simple tangential techniques in adjuvant whole-breast radiotherapy for patients with breast cancer. Simultaneous-integrated boost (SIB) radiotherapy shortens the overall treatment time and improves dose homogeneity. However, prospective randomized trials regarding IMRT with SIB for adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer are lacking. Methods The IMRT-MC2 (MINT) trial is a phase III prospective randomized controlled trial comparing IMRT with SIB (Arm A: whole breast 28 × 1.8 Gy, Boost 28 × 2.3 Gy) to 3D-conformal radiotherapy with a sequential boost (Arm B: whole breast 28 × 1.8 Gy, boost 8 × 2 Gy) in patients with breast cancer after BCS. Indication for boost radiotherapy was defined as age < 70 years or age > 70 years with presence of additional risk factors. This is a retrospective analysis of acute toxicity at one of two trial sites. Results Five hundred two patients were randomized, of which 446 patients were eligible for this analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of any grade radiation dermatitis between the two treatment arms at the end of treatment (p = 0.26). However, radiation dermatitis grade 2/3 (29.1% vs. 20.1 and 3.5% vs. 2.3%) occurred significantly more often in Arm A (p = 0.02). Breast/chest wall pain at the first follow-up visit was significantly more common in patients treated on Arm B (p = 0.02). Conclusions Treatment on both arms was well tolerated, however there were some differences regarding radiodermatitis and breast pain. Further analyses are ongoing. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01322854, registered 24th March 2011.