前列腺癌多目标优化VMAT计划剂量学研究

目的 探讨多目标优化在前列腺癌VMAT计划中的应用。方法 随机抽取已接受治疗的14例前列腺癌患者VMAT计划资料。这些计划基于单目标优化,保持优化条件不变,改用多目标优化。配对t检验两种计划剂量学参数差异。结果 两种计划均满足临床要求,与单目标计划相比,多目标计划PTV 95%、100%处方剂量覆盖度增加(P=0.000、0.000),105%处方剂量覆盖度降低(P=0.000),D_max降低0.35 Gy (P=0.063);直肠V₂₀、V₃₀、V₄₀、V₅₀和D_mean分别降低24.7%、36.8%、31.1%、20.5%和6.8 Gy (P=0.000、0.000、0.000、0.001、0.000),D₂cc增加1.4 Gy (P=0.000);膀胱V₁₀、V₂₀、V₃₀、V₄₀、V₅₀和D_mean分别降低5.7%、18.5%、20.9%、12.5%、5.4%和3.5 Gy (P=0.006、0.000、0.000、0.000、0.002、0.000);小肠V₁₀、V₂₀、V₃₀和D_mean多目标计划有优势。结论 多目标计划在满足靶区剂量情况下可以进一步降低OAR剂量,但结果还需进一步研究和评估。     

Does inverse‐planned intensity‐modulated radiation therapy have a role in the treatment of patients with left‐sided breast cancer?

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to determine if multi‐field inverse‐planned intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) improves on the sparing of organs at risk (heart, lungs and contralateral breast) when compared with field‐in‐field forward‐planned RT (FiF). Methods: The planning CT scans of 10 women with left‐sided breast cancer previously treated with whole‐breast RT on an inclined breast board with both arms supported above the head were retrieved. The whole breast planning target volume (PTV) was defined by clinical mark‐up and contoured on all relevant CT slices as were the organs at risk. For each patient, three plans were generated using FiF, five‐ and nine‐field inverse‐planned IMRT, all to a total dose of 50 Gy to the whole breast. Mean and maximum doses to the organs at risk and the homogeneity index (HI) of the whole‐breast PTV were compared. Results: The mean heart dose for the FiF plans was 2.63 Gy compared with 4.04 Gy for the five‐field and 4.30 Gy for the nine‐field IMRT plans, with no significant differences in the HI of the whole‐breast PTV in all plans. The FiF plans resulted in a mean contralateral breast dose of 0.58 Gy compared with 0.70 and 2.08 Gy for the five‐ and nine‐field IMRT plans, respectively. Conclusions: FiF resulted in a lower mean heart and contralateral breast dose with comparable HI of the whole‐breast PTV in comparison with inverse‐planned IMRT using five or nine fields.     

Conventional, conformal, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatment planning of external beam radiotherapy for cervical cancer: The impact of tumor regression

PURPOSE: Investigating the impact of tumor regression on the dose within cervical tumors and surrounding organs, comparing conventional, conformal, and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and the need for repeated treatment planning during irradiation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fourteen patients with cervical cancer underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging before treatment and once during treatment, after about 30 Gy. Target volumes and critical organs were delineated. First conventional, conformal, and IMRT plans were generated. To evaluate the impact of tumor regression, we calculated dose-volume histograms for these plans, using the delineations of the intratreatment MR images. Second conformal and IMRT plans were made based on the delineations of the intratreatment MR images. First and second plans were compared. RESULTS: The average volume receiving 95% of the prescribed dose (43 Gy) by the conventional, conformal, and IMRT plans was, respectively, for the bowel 626 cc, 427 cc, and 232 cc; for the rectum 101 cc, 90 cc, and 60 cc; and for the bladder 89 cc, 70 cc, and 58 cc. The volumes of critical organs at this dose level were significantly reduced using IMRT compared with conventional and conformal planning (p < 0.02 in all cases). After having delivered about 30 Gy external beam radiation therapy, the primary gross tumor volumes decreased on average by 46% (range, 6.1-100%). The target volumes on the intratreatment MR images remained sufficiently covered by the 95% isodose. Second IMRT plans significantly diminished the treated bowel volume, if the primary gross tumor volumes decreased >30 cc. CONCLUSIONS: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is superior in sparing of critical organs compared with conventional and conformal treatment, with adequate coverage of the target volumes. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy remains superior after 30 Gy external beam radiation therapy, despite tumor regression and internal organ motion. Repeated IMRT planning can improve the sparing of the bowel and rectum in patients with substantial tumor regression.     

Expanded risk groups help determine which prostate radiotherapy sub-group may benefit from adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy

Purpose

To investigate the influence of inhomogeneity corrections on stereotactic treatment plans for non-small cell lung cancer and determine the dose delivered to the PTV and OARs.

Materials and methods

For 26 patients with stage-I NSCLC treatment plans were optimized with unit density (UD), an equivalent pathlength algorithm (EPL), and a collapsed-cone (CC) algorithm, prescribing 60 Gy to the PTV. After optimization the first two plans were recalculated with the more accurate CC algorithm. Dose parameters were compared for the three different optimized plans. Dose to the target and OARs was evaluated for the recalculated plans and compared with the planned values.

Results

For the CC algorithm dose constraints for the ratio of the 50% isodose volume and the PTV, and the V_{20 Gy} are harder to fulfill. After recalculation of the UD and EPL plans large variations in the dose to the PTV were observed. For the unit density plans, the dose to the PTV varied from 42.1 to 63.4 Gy for individual patients. The EPL plans all overestimated the PTV dose (average 48.0 Gy). For the lungs, the recalculated V_{20 Gy} was highly correlated to the planned value, and was 12% higher for the UD plans (R² = 0.99), and 15% lower for the EPL plans (R² = 0.96).

Conclusion

Inhomogeneity corrections have a large influence on the dose delivered to the PTV and OARs for SBRT of lung tumors. A simple rescaling of the dose to the PTV is not possible, implicating that accurate dose calculations are necessary for these treatment plans in order to prevent large discrepancies between planned and actually delivered doses to individual patients.     

子宫颈癌术后盆腔不同体外照射方法的剂量学研究

目的 比较常规放疗(CRT)、三维适形放疗(3DCRT)及调强放疗(IMRT)方法在子宫颈癌靶体积剂量覆盖及危及器官(OAR)保护方面的差异,探讨子宫颈癌患者术后盆腔体外照射的合理方法.方法 对10例子宫颈癌术后患者进行模拟CT增强扫描,在计划系统内勾画临床靶体积(CTV),CTV均匀外扩1.0 cm生成计划靶体积(PTV),同时勾画小肠、直肠、膀胱、骨髓、卵巢及股骨头作为OAR.进而设计出CRT、3DCRT及IMRT的3种治疗计划,对CRT要求参考点达到处方剂量45 Gy,对3DCRT及IMRT要求95%的PTV达45 Gy.应用等剂量曲线及剂量体积直方图对3种计划的CTV及OAR的剂量分布进行比较.结果 CRT计划中CTV达45 Gy的平均体积显著低于3DCRT、IMRT计划(Q=8.27、8.37,P值均＜0.01),而3DCRT和IMRT计划之间相似(Q=0.10,P＞0.05).3DCRT和IMRT计划中小肠达30、45 Gy的体积明显低于CRT.IMRT计划中直肠、膀胱达30、45 Gy的体积均显著低于CRT,而3DCRT中仅直肠、膀胱达45 Gy的体积显著低于CRT.3DCRT和IMRT使骨髓达30、45 Gy剂量的体积明显低于CRT.4例卵巢移位者中2例在3DCRT及IMRT计划中,另2例在3种计划中卵巢平均受量全部超过300 cGy.结论 IMRT和3DCRT在提高靶体积内剂量及其均匀度,以及保护小肠、直肠和膀胱方面较CRT具备明显优势,以IMRT为最佳.在高剂量范围内,IMRT和3DCRT对骨髓的保护优势确定.对于移位悬吊的卵巢,IMRT、3DCRT及CRT均不能对其形成有效保护.     

Comparaison entre arcthérapie volumétrique modulée et tomothérapie pour le cancer du col utérin,avec irradiation lomboaortique

PurposeIntensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has proven its dosimetric superiority over conformational radiotherapy for cervix cancers in terms of digestive toxicity. Volumetric modulated arctherapy (VMAT) has shown its dosimetric interest when compared to IMRT with static beams. The purpose of our study was to compare conformational radiotherapy, VMAT and tomotherapy for cervical cancers with para-aortic lymph nodes irradiation.Patients and methodsThe dosimetric data from ten patients were compared between the three techniques, with collection of the dose received by the planning target volume, kidneys, bowel, rectum, bladder, bone marrow and spinal cord, as well as the complete dose.ResultsThere was a significant difference in favour of VMAT and tomotherapy when compared with conformational radiotherapy for the organs at risk: intestines (V_20 Gy, V_30 Gy and V_45 Gy), rectum (V_30 Gy and V_45 Gy), bladder (V_30 Gy and V_45 Gy) and kidneys (V_12 Gy, D_average, V_20 Gy). Volumes receiving 20, 30 and 45 Gy were significantly higher in conformational radiotherapy than in VMAT and tomotherapy. There was a significant difference in favour of tomotherapy when compared with VMAT for V_12 Gy in kidneys and V_45 Gy in the bladder.ConclusionThis study confirms the interest of VMAT and tomotherapy for pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes irradiation of cervix cancer when compared with conformational radiotherapy. There was little difference between VMAT and tomotherapy, except for kidney sparing, which was better with tomotherapy and thus may be interesting for patients receiving nephrotoxic chemotherapy.     

Does helical tomotherapy improve dose conformity and normal tissue sparing compared to conventional IMRT? A dosimetric comparison in high risk prostate cancer

The study was designed to compare Helical Tomotherapy (HT) based IMRT and conventional sliding window (SW IMRT) in patients with high risk prostate cancer. Complementary plans with HT and SWIMRT were compared using DVH parameters. The PTV Prostate was prescribed 74 Gy in 37 fractions and the nodal PTV received 55 Gy in 37 fractions by simultaneous integrated boost. Conformity Index, Homogeneity Index and dose-volume parameters were compared. The conformity index (CI) of HT (0.77, SD = 0.54) plans tended to be better (p = 0.069) compared to SWIMRT (0.70, SD = 0.01) for prostate PTV. CI for nodal PTV was similar. Helical tomotherapy plans were more homogeneous, with homogeneity index (HI) of 0.04 compared to 0.06 in SWIMRT (p = 0.018) for PTV prostate and HI of 0.06 and 0.15 (p = 0.025) for PTV nodes respectively. Median dose to bladder (p = 0.025) and rectum (p = 0.012) were less with HT. However, HT delivered a higher D10Gy and D1Gy to rectum and bladder overlap volumes as a consequence of achieving better homogeneity. Femoral heads were better spared with HT plans (p = 0.012). HT improves dose homogeneity, target coverage and conformity as compared to SWIMRT, with overall improvement in critical organ sparing.     

Organ-sparing Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy for Anal Cancer using the ACTII Schedule: A Comparison of Conventional and Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy Plans

AimsConventional external beam radiotherapy for anal cancer is associated with a high rate of treatment-related morbidity. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the dosimetric advantages of three intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans with the conventional plan with regards to organs at risk avoidance delivering the ACTII schedule of 50.4 Gy in 1.8 Gy/fraction: 17 fractions for phase 1 and 11 fractions for phase 2.Materials and methodsTen anal cancer patients (T1-3 N0-3) treated with the conventional plan using four fields and conformal boost were identified. The phase 1 planning target volume (PTV) included tumour, anal canal and inguinal, peri-rectal and internal/external iliac nodes. Phase 2 included identifiable disease only. Three step-and-shoot IMRT plans were generated: IMRT1: phase 1 inverse-planned IMRT with two- to four-field conformal phase 2; IMRT2: both phase 1 and phase 2 inverse-planned IMRT; IMRT3: phase 1 IMRT and phase 2 forward-planned IMRT. All IMRT plans were then compared against the conventional plan on PTV coverage, small bowel, genitalia, femoral heads, bladder and healthy tissue dose volume information.ResultsWhile achieving similar PTV coverage compared with the conventional plan, significant dose reductions were observed for IMRT plans in external genitalia, small bowel and healthy tissue. Reductions were also observed in the femoral heads and bladder.ConclusionsIMRT significantly reduces the dose to organs at risk while maintaining excellent PTV coverage in anal cancer radiotherapy.     

Comparison of inverse-planned three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE: Lungs are the major dose-limiting organ during radiotherapy (RT) for non-small-cell lung cancer owing to the development of pneumonitis. This study compared intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) with three-dimensional conformal RT (3D-CRT) in reducing the dose to the lungs. METHODS: Ten patients with localized non-small-cell lung cancer underwent computed tomography (CT). The planning target volume (PTV) was defined and the organs at risk were outlined. An inverse-planning program, AutoPlan, was used to design the beam angle-optimized six-field noncoplanar 3D-CRT plans. Each 3D-CRT plan was compared with a series of five IMRT plans per patient. The IMRT plans were created using a commercial algorithm and consisted of a series of three, five, seven, and nine equidistant coplanar field arrangements and one six-field noncoplanar plan. The planning objectives were to minimize the lung dose while maintaining the dose to the PTV. The percentage of lung volume receiving >20 Gy (V20) and the percentage of the PTV covered by the 90% isodose (PTV90) were the primary endpoints. The PTV90/V20 ratio was used as the parameter accounting for both the reduction in lung volume treated and the PTV coverage. RESULTS: All IMRT plans, except for the three-field coplanar plans, improved the PTV90/V20 ratio significantly compared with the optimized 3D-CRT plan. Nine coplanar IMRT beams were significantly better than five or seven coplanar IMRT beams, with an improved PTV90/V20 ratio. CONCLUSION: The results of our study have shown that IMRT can reduce the dose to the lungs compared with 3D-CRT by improving the conformity of the plan.     

Optimising the dosimetric quality and efficiency of post-prostatectomy radiotherapy: a planning study comparing the performance of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with an optimised seven-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) technique

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate radiotherapy treatment plans using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for post‐prostatectomy radiotherapy. Methods and Materials: The quality of radiotherapy plans for 10 patients planned and treated with a seven‐field IMRT technique for biochemical failure post‐prostatectomy were subsequently compared with 10 prospectively planned single‐arc VMAT plans using the same computed tomography data set and treatment planning software. Plans were analysed using parameters to assess for target volume coverage, dose to organs at risk (OAR), biological outcomes, dose conformity and homogeneity, as well as the total monitor units (MU), planning and treatment efficiency. Results: The mean results for the study population are reported for the purpose of comparison. For IMRT, the median dose to the planning target volume, V_95% and D_95% was 71.1 Gy, 98.9% and 68.3 Gy compared with 71.2 Gy, 99.2% and 68.6 Gy for VMAT. There was no significant difference in the conformity index or homogeneity index. The VMAT plans achieved better sparing of the rectum and the left and right femora with a reduction in the median dose by 7.9, 6.3 and 3.6 Gy, respectively. The total number of monitor units (MU) was reduced by 24% and treatment delivery time by an estimated 3 min per fraction without a significant increase in planning requirements. Conclusions: VMAT can achieve post‐prostatectomy radiotherapy plans of comparable quality to IMRT with the potential to reduce dose to OAR and improve the efficiency of treatment delivery.     

Image-guided radiotherapy for cervix cancer: high-tech external beam therapy versus high-tech brachytherapy

PURPOSE: Many studies comparing external-beam therapy (EBT) and brachytherapy (BT) are biased because advanced EBT is compared with conventional BT. This study compares high-tech EBT against high-tech BT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Nine patients were selected with locally advanced cervix cancer, representing typical clinical situations according to initial tumor extension and response after EBT. Patients were treated either with intracavitary, combined interstitial/intracavitary, or complex interstitial BT. Gross tumor volume, high-risk clinical target volume (CTV), intermediate-risk CTV, bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were delineated. Magnetic resonance-guided BT planning was manually optimized with respect to organ dose limits. Margins (3 and 5 mm) were added to BT CTVs to construct planning target volumes (PTVs) for EBT. Inversely planned EBT with photons (IMRT) and protons (IMPT) was challenged to deliver the highest possible doses to PTVs while respecting D(1cc) and D(2cc) limits from BT, assuming the same fractionation (4 x 7 Gy). The D90 for target structures and normal tissue volumes receiving fractionated doses between 3 and 7 Gy were compared. RESULTS: High-risk CTV doses depended on the clinical situation and radiation quality. If IMRT was limited to D(2cc) and D(1cc) from BT, the D90 for high-risk PTV and intermediate-risk PTV was mostly lower. Volumes receiving 60 Gy (in equivalent dose in 20 Gy fractions) were approximately twice as large for IMRT compared with BT. For IMPT, this volume ratio was lower. Planning target volume doses of IMPT plans with 3-mm margins were comparable to those with BT. Gross tumor volume doses were mostly lower for both IMRT and IMPT. CONCLUSION: For benchmarking high-tech EBT, high-tech BT techniques have to be used. For cervix cancer boost treatments, both IMRT and IMPT seem to be inferior to advanced BT.     

ICRU 83号报告推荐方式评估宫颈癌术后辅助IMRT与传统放疗方式的差异及可行性

目的：以国际辐射单位与测量委员会（International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, ICRU）83号报告推荐的方式评估调强适形放疗（intensity-modulated radiotherapy,IMRT）方式与传统二维二野等中心放疗方式用于宫颈癌术后辅助放疗的差异及可行性。方法回顾性分析10例宫颈癌术后IMRT和模拟传统二维放疗的剂量体积直方图（dose-volume histogram,DVH）数据。统计计划靶区体积（planning target volume,PTV）、D100、D98、D95、D50、Dmean、D2、D0,计算均匀性指数（homogeneity index,HI）;以D50评估不同放疗方式对剂量的影响;分别统计危及器官（organs at risk,OAR）的DVH参数并进行分析。结果以D50评估IMRT方式的PTV剂量较二维放疗方式提高4.47%±3.62%,其实际差值为（200±157）cGy（t=4.2,P=0.001）。IMRT中骨盆的V10和V20高于二维放疗,V30的差异无统计学意义。IMRT中小肠的V10和V20高于二维放疗,V40低于二维放疗。IMRT中膀胱和直肠的V40、Dmean低于二维放疗,而以D1c、D2c、D2和Dmax为指标评估高剂量区,两种放疗方式的差异无统计学意义。结论 ICRU 83号报告推荐方式适用于IMRT计划评估;IMRT较传统放疗方式提高了靶区剂量,增加了骨盆和小肠的低剂量受照体积,降低了膀胱和直肠的整体受照剂量,但仍存在小体积较高剂量。若采用D50作为评估标准,可考虑降低剂量4.47%±3.62%。     

Automated selection of beam orientations and segmented intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for treatment of oesophagus tumors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: For some treatment sites, there is evidence in the literature that five to nine equi-angular input beam directions are enough for generating IMRT plans. For oesophagus cancer, there is a report showing that going from four to nine beams may even result in lower quality plans. In this paper, our previously published algorithm for automated beam angle selection (Cycle) has been extended to include segmented IMRT. For oesophagus cancer patients, we have investigated whether automated orientation selection from a large number of equi-angular input beam directions (up to thirty-six) for IMRT optimisation can result in improved lung sparing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT-data from five oesophagus patients treated recently in our institute were used for this study. For a prescribed mean PTV dose of 55 Gy, Cycle was used in an iterative procedure to minimise the mean lung dose under the following hard constraints: standard deviation for PTV dose inhomogeneity 2% (1,1 Gy), maximum spinal cord dose 45 Gy. Conformal radiotherapy (CFRT) and IMRT plans for a standard four field oesophagus beam configuration were compared with IMRT plans generated by automated selection from nine or thirty-six equi-angular input beam orientations. Comparisons were also made with dose distributions generated with our commercial treatment planning system (TPS), and with observations in the literature. RESULTS: Using Cycle, automated orientation selection from nine or thirty-six input beam directions resulted in improved lung sparing compared to the four field set-ups. Compared to selection from nine input orientations, selection from thirty-six directions did always result in lower mean lung doses, sometimes with even fewer non-zero weight beams. On average only seven beams with a non-zero weight were enough for obtaining the lowest mean lung dose, yielding clinically feasible plans even in case of thirty-six input directions for the optimisation process. With our commercial TPS we observed the same contra-intuitive, unfavourable results as reported in the literature; nine field equi-angular IMRT plans had substantially higher mean lung doses than plans for the conventional four field set-ups. For all cases, the Cycle plans generated from nine equi-angular input directions were superior compared to similar plans generated with our commercial TPS. CONCLUSIONS: For the studied oesophagus cancer patients the best plans for IMRT were obtained with Cycle, using automated beam orientation selection from thirty-six input beam directions. The lowest mean lung doses could be obtained with, on average, a selection of only seven beams with non-zero weight.     

Radiation therapy of post-mastectomy patients with positive nodes using fixed beam tomotherapy

Purposes

To develop an optimized dosimetric class solution for post-mastectomy irradiation for fixed beam tomotherapy (FBT).

Methods and materials

CT simulation scans from 10 post-mastectomy patients were used to generate plans with planning target volumes (PTVs) that included the chest wall, axillary nodes and supraclavical nodes using FBT and helical tomotherapy (HT) with 3D and IMRT modes and the resultant dosimetry was compared to conventional IMRT. FBT IMRT plans were analyzed with both 4 (4FBT) and 11-field (11FBT) plans. Important organs at risk (OARs) included the heart, ipsilateral and contralateral lungs, esophagus and contralateral breast. In all plans, the spinal cord and contralateral lung were completely blocked while the heart and ipsilateral lung were directionally blocked. Doses to the contralateral breast were minimized. Each plan was evaluated for its delivery time, percentile volume of lung receiving x Gy (V_x) and dose received by x percent volume (D_x). D₁ and D₅ were used to measure the maximum dose to the OAR or PTV, D₉₅ and D₉₉ were used to measure the minimal dose to the PTV.

Results

Compared to the conventional IMRT technique, HT IMRT, 11FBT IMRT and 11FBT 3D significantly reduced the D₁ of the heart in cases of left-sided tumors by 13%, 41% and 36%, and the V₁₀ of ipsilateral lung in all cases by 26%, 49% and 46%, respectively. A close to 90% reduction in the contralateral breast dose was also observed with the 11FBT plans. Target dose homogeneity of 11FBT 3D plans is inferior to that of the HT and conventional IMRT plans but the treatment delivery time, 7.59 min, was significantly shorter by 3 min. 4FBT IMRT resulted in clinically unacceptable heterogeneity with high dose regions in both the PTV and normal tissue.

Conclusions

A class solution based on an 11 beam configuration was established to optimize the dosimetry of fixed beam tomotherapy planning for post-mastectomy patients. The 11FBT plans were deliverable in clinically efficient treatment times.