The Dilemma of Target Delineation with PET/CT in Radiotherapy Planning for Malignant Tumors

Currently there are many unanswered questions concerning contouring a target with PET/CT in radiotherapy planning. Who should contour the PET volume-the radiation oncologist or the nuclear medicine physician？ Which factors will contribute to the dual-observer variability between them？ What should be taken as the optimal SUV threshold to demarcate a malignant tumor from the normal tissue？ When the PET volume does not coincide with the local area CT findings, which portion should be contoured as the target？ If a reginal lymph node,draining area or a remote region is shown to be PET positive but CT negative, or PET negative but CT positive, how is the target identified and selected？ Further studies concerning the relationship between PET/CT and the cancerous tissue are needed. The long-term clinical results showing an increased therapeutic ratio will finally verify the applicability of guidelines to contour the target with PET/CT in radiotherapy planning.

A multiphase direct aperture optimization for inverse planning in radiotherapy

Optimization of the inverse planning becomes critical because it follows the invention of intensity modulated radiotherapy(IMRT) to shorten the previous "trial-and-error" treatment process and increase efficiency.In this paper, the inverse planning is used to direct aperture optimization in the ARTS(Accurate/Advanced Radiotherapy System). The objective function was quadratic, both tolerance and dose-volume constraint types are supported. The memory efficient conjugate gradient algorithm is used to cope with its large data.Furthermore, to fully exploit the solution space, a shortest path sub-procedure is coupled into the whole algorithm, thus giving further possibility decreasing the objective function. Two clinical cases are tested, indicating that the applicability of this algorithm is promising to clinical usage.

Dose Distributions in Simulated Electron Radiotherapy with Intraoral Cones Using Treatment Planning System

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the difference between depth data from an intraoral cone and a conventional irradiation tube calculated using a treatment planning system (TPS), and that measured using an intraoral cone for electron radiotherapy. Background: A TPS is only compatible with conventional irradiation tubes. However, such systems are not suitable for determining dose distributions when a special cone is employed. Materials and Methods: Dose distributions were calculated using the beam data for mounted intraoral cones using a TPS. Then, the dose distribution by field size was calculated for a low-melting-point lead alloy using the beam data for a mounted conventional tube. The calculated data were evaluated against the measured intraoral-cone depth data based on the dose and depth differences. Results: The calculated data for the intraoral cone case did not match the measured data. However, the depth data obtained considering the field size determined for the lead alloy using the conventional tube were close to the measured values for the intraoral cone case. The difference in the depth at which the absorbed dose was 50% of the maximum value of the percentage depth dose was less than ±4 mm for the generalized Gaussian pencil beam convolution algorithm and less than ±1 mm for the electron Monte Carlo algorithm. Conclusion: It was found that the measured and calculated dose distributions were in agreement, especially when then electron Monte Carlo algorithm was used. Thus, the TPS can be employed to determine dose distributions for intraoral cone applications.

Complex Target Volume Delineation and Treatment Planning in Radiotherapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM)

Introduction: Radiotherapy alone or combined with surgery and/or chemotherapy is being investigated in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). This study aimed to simulate a Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) treatment of a patient with MPM. Materials and Methods: CT images from a patient with intact lungs were imported via DICOM into the Pinnacle3 treatment planning (TP) system (TPS) and used as a model for MPM to delineate organs at risk (OAR) and both clinical and planning target volumes (CTV and PTV) with a margin of 5 mm. Elekta Synergy with 6 MV photons and 80 leafs MLCi2 was employed. VMAT plans were generated using two coplanar arcs with gantry rotation angles of 178° - 182°, the collimator angles of each arc were set to 90°, Octavius® 4D 729 was employed for quality assurance while the calculated and measured doses were compared using VeriSoft. Results: A TP was achieved. The Gamma volume analysis with criteria of 3 mm distance to agreement and 3% dose difference yielded the gamma passing rate = 99.9%. The reference isodose was 42.75 Gy with the coverage constraints for the PTV D95 and V95 = 95.0% of 45 Gy. The remaining dosimetric parameters met the recommendations from the clinically acceptable guidelines for the radiotherapy of MPM. Conclusion: Using well-defined TV and VMAT, a consistent TP compared to similar ones from publications was achieved. We obtained a high agreement between the 3D dose reconstructed and the dose calculated.

Comparative Study between Field-in-Field and IMRT Techniques in Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy: A Treatment Planning Study

Introduction: Field-in-Field (FIF) and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) are two advanced radiation therapy planning techniques. Both of them are being used to achieve the same two related aims which are, to expose the targeted tumor to the full radiation dose and to spare the nearby normal tissues (or organs) from being exposed to high amounts of radiation more than its tolerance dose limits. FIF is a forward planning while IMRT is an inverse planning and FIF is a forward IMRT. Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare between Field-in-Field and IMRT techniques in prostate cancer radiotherapy. Method: A treatment planning system supporting both inverse and forward planning facilities is used. Ten prostate cancer patients were planned with both FIF and IMRT planning techniques. Doses received by the Planning Target Volume (PTV) and Organs at Risk (OARs) were compared in the two methods quantitatively from Dose Volume Histograms (DVHs) and qualitatively from (axial cuts). Results: The results showed that the IMRT planning technique achieved better dose coverage to the PTV than the FIF planning technique but, except RT and LT Femoral Heads, FIF achieved a better protection to the Rectum and the Bladder (OARs) than IMRT. Conclusions: The results showed that the inverse planning based IMRT technique is better and recommended in the prostate cancer radiotherapy than the FIF technique.

The Impact of Risk-Based Cancer Care Planning on the Complications and Self-Care Ability of Cervical Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

Objective:To explore the impact of the application and implementation of risk-based cancer care planning in patients with cervical cancer radiotherapy on the complications and self-care ability of patients.Method:This study recruited selected patients who came for cervical cancer radiotherapy in a tertiary hospital in Xianyang City,Shaanxi Province from November 2020 to November 2021.One hundred patients were recruited.Nursing management was carried out,and cancer care planning under the concept of conventional care and risk were applied.The effects of different nursing methods on patients were compared and analyzed.Results:The patients in the experimental group had higher scores of self-care ability and lower complication rate.All data were significantly different from those of the control group(P<0.05),and the nursing effect on the experimental group was better.Conclusion:The application and implementation of the risk-based cancer care planning in patients who received cervical cancer radiotherapy has significant clinical effects,which is beneficial to reduce the incidence of patients’adverse reactions and promote patient recovery.

Volumetric-modulated arc therapy vs c-IMRT in esophageal cancer:A treatment planning comparison

AIM： To compare the volumetric-modulated arc ther- apy （VMAT） plans with conventional sliding window intensity-modulated radiotherapy （c-IMRT） plans in esophageal cancer （EC）. METHODS： Twenty patients with EC were selected, including 5 cases located in the cervical, the upper, the middle and the lower thorax, respectively. Five plans were generated with the eclipse planning sys- tem： three using c-IMRT with 5 fields （5F）, 7 fields （7F） and 9 fields （gF）, and two using VMAT with a single arc （1A） and double arcs （2A）. The treatment plans were designed to deliver a dose of 60 Gy to the plan-ning target volume （PTV） with the same constrains in a 2.0 Gy daily fraction, 5 d a week. Plans were normal- ized to 95% of the PTV that received 100% of the pre- scribed dose. We examined the dose-volume histogram parameters of PTV and the organs at risk （OAR） such as lungs, spinal cord and heart. Monitor units （MU） and normal tissue complication probability （NTCP） of OAR were also reported. RESULTS： Both c-IMRT and VMAT plans resulted in abundant dose coverage of PTV for EC of different Io- cations. The dose conformity to PTV was improved as the number of field in c-IMRT or rotating arc in VMAT was increased. The doses to PTV and OAR in VMAT plans were not statistically different in comparison with c-IMRT plans, with the following exceptions： in cervical and upper thoracic EC, the conformity index （CI） was higher in VMAT （1A 0.78 and 2A 0.8） than in c-IMRT （5F 0.62, 7F 0.66 and 9F 0.73） and homogeneity was slightly better in c-IMRT （7F 1.09 and 9F 1.07） than in VMAT （1A 1,1 and 2A 1.09）, Lung V30 was lower in VMAT （1A 12.52 and 2A 12.29） than in c-IMRT （7F 14.35 and 9F 14.81）. The humeral head doses were significantly increased in VMAT as against c-IMRT. In the middle and lower thoracic EC, CI in VMAT （1A 0.76 and 2A 0.74） was higher than in c-IMRT （5F 0.63 Gy and 7F 0.67 Gy）, and homogeneity was almost similar between VMAT and c-IMRT. V20 （2A 21.49 Gy vs 7F 24.59 Gy and 9F 24.16 Gy） and V30 （2A 9.73 Gy vs 5F 12.61 Gy, 7F 11.5 Gy and 9F 11.37 Gy） of lungs in VMAT were lower than in c-IMRT, but low doses to lungs （V5 and Vl0） were increased. V30 （1A 48.12 Gy vs 5F 59.2 Gy, 7F 58.59 Gy and 9F 57.2 Gy）, V40 and V50 of heart in VMAT was lower than in c-IMRT. MUs in VMAT plans were significantly reduced in comparison with c-IMRT, maximum doses to the spinal cord and mean doses of lungs were similar between the two techniques. NTCP of spinal cord was 0 for all cases. NTCP of lungs and heart in VMAT were lower than in c-IMRT. The advantage of VMAT plan was enhanced by doubling the arc. CONCLUSION： Compared with c-IMRT, VMAT, especial- ly the 2A, slightly improves the OAR dose sparing, such as lungs and heart, and reduces NTCP and MU with a better PTV coverage.

Auto-planning技术用于胸中段食管癌调强放疗的可行性

目的探讨Auto-planning技术用于食管癌调强放疗计划设计的可行性。方法选取24例食管癌放疗病例,用Pinnacle 3计划系统设计自动治疗计划(ap-IMRT)和人工计划(m-IMRT),比较两种不同计划的剂量体积直方图(DVH),用配对t检验分析靶区和危及器官受照剂量的差异。结果肿瘤靶区GTV的D_(min)(t=-2.233,P=0.036)、均匀性指数HI(t=2.205,P=0.038),计划靶区PTV的D 98(t=-2.241,P=0.035)、HI(t=2.543,P=0.018)、适形度指数CI(t=-2.497,P=0.020),左肺V 20(t=4.412,P=0.000)、V_(30)(t=5.243,P=0.000),心脏V 30(t=2.546,P=0.018)、V_(40)(t=2.404,P=0.025)、D_(mean)(t=2.565,P=0.017),以上参数均是ap-IMRT计划优于m-IMRT。脊髓最大受照剂量D_(max)(t=-1.891,P=0.045),m-IMRT计划优于ap-IMRT。结论ap-IMRT靶区剂量分布能够达到较好均匀性和适形度,且能更地保护并行器官,但对串行器官脊髓的保护欠佳。

Influence of Position and Radiation Technique on Organs at Risk in Radiotherapy of Rectal Cancer

The influence of the position and radiation technique on the organs at risk（OARs） in radiotherapy of rectal cancer was evaluated. The relationship between the volume of irradiated small bowel（VSB） and acute bowel toxicity was determined. A total of 97 cases of rectal cancer were retrospectively randomized to receive radiotherapy with the designated treatment positions and radiation plans. Among 64 patients in the supine position, 32 patients were given three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy（3DCR） and 32 patients were subjected to intensity-modulated radiation therapy（IMRT） respectively. The rest 33 patients were treated with 3DCRT in the prone position with a belly board. The VSB was calculated for doses from 5 to 45 Gy at an interval of 5 Gy. With prescription dose in planned target volume（PTV） of 50 Gy, the dose distribution, conformal index for PTV（CIPTV）, dose-volume histogram（DVH） of OARs, the correlation of VSB and the acute toxicity were compared. The results were shown as follows：（1） Among the 3 methods, there were no differences in PTV＇s converge including V95 and D95;（2） For IMRT under a supine position, CIPTV was closest to 1, the mean dose of small bowel decreased（P〈0.05）, and the mean VSB from V30 to V45 significantly decreased（P〈0.05）.（3） For 3DCRT with a belly board under a prone position, the mean dose and the mean VSB from 40 to 45 Gy were less than those for 3DCRT under a supine position（P〈0.05）;（4） Mean proportion of VSB was significantly greater in the patients experiencing diarrhea grade 2-4 than in those with diarrhea grade 0-1 at dose levels from V30 to V45（P〈0.05）. It was concluded that for the radiotherapy of rectal cancer, IMRT technique might decrease the high-dose VSB to reduce the risk of acute injury. 3DCRT with a belly board under a prone position is superior to 3DCRT under a supine position, which could be a second choice for radiation of rectal cancer.

Using CT imaging to delineate the prostatic apex for radiation treatment planning

Background and Objective: In computed tomography (CT)-based radiotherapy planning for prostate cancer, it is difficult to precisely delineate the prostatic apex because of its relationship with the urogenital diaphragm and bulbospongiosus musculature. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans of the patients with prostate cancer to investigate the relationship between the prostatic apex and the anatomic structure visible on CT, and to provide evidence for localizing the prostatic apex in radiotherapy planning. Methods: MRI and CT scans of 108 patients with prostate cancer were analyzed to measure the distances between the prostatic apex and the bottom of ischial tuberosities, the bottom of obturator foramen, the bottom of pubic symphysis, and the bulb of the penis. The volume of the prostate was measured to analyze its relationship with the localization of the prostatic apex. Results: The prostatic apex was located (13.1 ± 3.3) mm above the bulb of the penis, (11.0 ± 5.4) mm above the bottom of the obturator foramen, (31.3 ± 5.5) mm above the ischial tuberosities, and (7.1 ± 4.7) mm above the bottom of the symphysis pubis. There was no correlation between the size of the prostate and the localization of the prostatic apex. Conclusions: The variance of the distance between the prostatic apex and the bulb of the penis is smaller than that of the distance between the apex and bony anatomy. Delineating the target to 6 mm above the bulb of the penis can cover the prostatic apex in 95% of the patients with prostate cancer, delineating to the bottom of obturator foramen can cover the prostatic apex in 100% of the patients.

Effect of Non-Delineated Normal Volumes in IMRT Treatment for Left Breast Cancer: A Treatment Planning Study

Introduction: Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) planning dose calculation process depends on IMRT dose constraints. So, if there was any structure along the treatment beam path not delineated, it would not be taken into account during that calculation process. During IMRT routine practical work, it is noticed that there are some non-delineated normal tissue volumes that received un-aimed dose. Aim: The purpose of this study was to study the effect of unusually delineated normal volumes in IMRT treatment for left sided breast cancer. Method: Ten left sided breast cancer patients were planned with IMRT inverse planning system. The unusually delineated normal volumes were delineated and taken into account in IMRT dose constraints as an Organ at Risk. Doses received by that volume were compared in the two methods quantitatively from Dose Volume Histograms (DVHs) and qualitatively from (axial cuts). Results: The results showed that doses received by the unusually delineated volume when they were delineated and taken into account in IMRT dose constraints were significantly higher than when they were not. Conclusions: The results showed that for IMRT planning technique used for treating left-sided breast cancer, all of the normal tissues/structures that are closed to the treatment targets must be delineated and taken into account in the IMRT planning dose constraints.

Estimation of the effect of target and normal tissue sparing based on equivalent uniform dose-based optimization in hypofractionated radiotherapy for lung cancer

Objective This study aims to investigate the dosimetric differences among four planning methods of physical and biological optimization in hypofractionated radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods Ten NSCLC patients receiving radiation therapy were chosen for this retrospective study.Volumetric modulated arc treatment plans for each patient were remade with dose-volume(DV)functions,biological-physical functions,and biological functions,using the same constraint parameters during optimization.The dosimetric differences between the four types of plans were calculated and analyzed.Results For the target,equivalent uniform dose(EUD)of the EUD and EUD+DV groups was approximately 2.8%–3.6%and 3.2%–3.7%higher than those of the DV and DV+EUD groups,respectively.The average tumor control probability(TCP)of the EUD and EUD+DV groups was also significantly higher than those of the other two groups(P<0.05).The difference in heterogeneity index(HI)among the four groups was also statistically significant(P<0.05),while the difference of conformity index(CI)was not significant(P>0.05).For the organs at risk,the differences of EUD,V5,V10,V20,V30 of normal lung tissues were not statistically significant(P>0.05);however,the mean lung dose of the EUD and EUD+DV groups was slightly lower than those of the other two groups.Conclusion The biological optimization method has obvious advantages of improving EUD and TCP of the target,while decreasing the exposed dose of normal lung.This result is meaningful in choosing plan optimization methods in routine work.

Dosimetric Effects Due to Inter-Observer Variability of Organ Contouring When Utilizing a Knowledge-Based Planning System for Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Radiotherapy is a widely accepted standard of care for early-stage prostate cancer, and it is believed that the plan quality and treatment outcome are associated with contour accuracy of both the target and organs-at-risk (OAR). The purposes of this study are to 1) assess geometric and dosimetric uncertainties due to inter-observer contour variabilities and 2) evaluate the effectiveness of geometric indicators to predict target dosimetry in prostate radiotherapy. Methods: Twenty prostate patients were selected for this retrospective study. Five experienced clinicians created unique structure sets containing prostate, seminal vesicles, bladder, and rectum for each patient. A fully automated script and knowledge-based planning routine were utilized to create standardized and unbiased plans that could be used to evaluate changes in isodose distributions due to inter-observer variability in structure segmentation. Plans were created on a “gold-standard” structure set, as well as on each of the user-defined structure sets. Results: Inter-observer variability of contours during structure segmentation was very low for clearly defined organs such as the bladder but increased for organs without well-defined borders (prostate, seminal vesicles, and rectum). For plans generated with the user-defined structure sets, strong/moderate correlations were observed between the geometric indicators for target structure agreement and target coverage for both low-risk and intermediate-risk patient groups, while OAR indicators showed no correlation to final dosimetry. Conclusions: Target delineation is crucial in order to maintain adequate dosimetric coverage regardless of the associated inter-observer uncertainties in OAR contours that had a limited impact upon final dosimetry.

Comparison between 4D robust optimization methods for carbon-ion treatment planning

Intensity-modulated particle therapy(IMPT)with carbon ions is comparatively susceptible to various uncertainties caused by breathing motion,including range,setup,and target positioning uncertainties.To determine relative biological effectiveness-weighted dose(RWD)distributions that are resilient to these uncertainties,the reference phase-based four-dimensional(4D)robust optimization(RP-4DRO)and each phase-based 4D robust optimization(EP-4DRO)method in carbon-ion IMPT treatment planning were evaluated and compared.Based on RWD distributions,4DRO methods were compared with 4D conventional optimization using planning target volume(PTV)margins(PTV-based optimization)to assess the effectiveness of the robust optimization methods.Carbon-ion IMPT treatment planning was conducted in a cohort of five lung cancer patients.The results indicated that the EP-4DRO method provided better robustness(P=0.080)and improved plan quality(P=0.225)for the clinical target volume(CTV)in the individual respiratory phase when compared with the PTV-based optimization.Compared with the PTV-based optimization,the RP-4DRO method ensured the robustness(P=0.022)of the dose distributions in the reference breathing phase,albeit with a slight sacrifice of the target coverage(P=0.450).Both 4DRO methods successfully maintained the doses delivered to the organs at risk(OARs)below tolerable levels,which were lower than the doses in the PTV-based optimization(P<0.05).Furthermore,the RP-4DRO method exhibited significantly superior performance when compared with the EP-4DRO method in enhancing overall OAR sparing in either the individual respiratory phase or reference respiratory phase(P<0.05).In general,both 4DRO methods outperformed the PTV-based optimization in terms of OAR sparing and robustness.

Dosimetric consequences of tumor volume changes after kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography for non-operative lung cancer during adaptive intensity-modulated radiotherapy or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate tumor volume changes with kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography （kV-CBCT） and their dosimetric consequences for non-operative lung cancer during intensity-modulated radiotherapy （IMRT） or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. Methods Eighteen patients with non-operative lung cancer who received IMRT consisting of 1.8-2.2 Gy/fraction and five fractions per week or stereotactic radiotherapy with 5-8 Gy/fraction and three fractions a week were studied, kV-CBCT was performed once per week during IMRT and at every fraction during stereotactic radiotherapy. The gross tumor volume （GTV） was contoured on the kV-CBCT images, and adaptive treatment plans were created using merged kV-CBCT and primary planning computed tomogra- phy image sets. Tumor volume changes and dosimetric parameters, including the minimum dose to 95% （D95） or 1% （D1） of the planning target volume （PTV）, mean lung dose （MLD）, and volume of lung tissue that received more than 5 （Vs）, 10 （Vl0）, 20 （V20）, and 30 （V30） Gy were retrospectively analyzed. Results The average maximum change in GTV observed during IMRT or fractionated stereotactic radio- therapy was -25.85% （range, -13.09% --56.76%）. The D95 and Dr of PTV for the adaptive treatment plans in all patients were not significantly different from those for the initial or former adaptive treatment plans. In patients with tumor volume changes of 〉20% in the third or fourth week of treatment during IMRT, adap- tive treatment plans offered clinically meaningful decreases in MLD and V5, V10, V20, and V30; however, in patients with tumor volume changes of 〈 20% in the third or fourth week of treatment as well as in patients with stereotactic radiotherapy, there were no significant or clinically meaningful decreases in the dosimetric parameters. Conclusion Adaptive treatment planning for decreasing tumor volume during IMRT may be beneficial for patients who experience tumor volume changes of 〉20% in the third or fourth week of treatment.

Effect of Breathing on Exposed Lung Volumes and Doses in Patients with Breast Carcinoma Receiving Radiotherapy

Introduction: This study evaluates the changes in the lung volume (LV) exposed radiation during the breath cycle and whether these volume differences have an effect on both lung and target doses in breast carcinoma patients. Material and Methods: Ten patients with left breast carcinoma underwent breast conservative surgery or mastectomy receiving radiotherapy (RT) (breast or chest wall and regional lymph nodes) were included. For this study, planning computerized tomography (CT) images were obtained during deep inspiration (DI) and end of expiration (EE), besides free breathing (FB) to simulate breath cycles. Three-dimensional conformal or intensity-modulated RT planning was done to obtain dose-volume information using CT series taken FB, DI and EE. The treatment plan was done with FB images and exported to the DI and EE scans and re-calculated. Volume changes and calculated dose differences according to breath cycles were compared. Results: There were significant differences in the whole LV, ipsilateral LV and contralateral LV between FB-DI and EE-DI while no significant difference was seen between FB and EE. V20 was lower during DI than FB and EE but the difference was not significant. There was no significant variation in whole breast dose although significant dose variations were observed in mean MI, supraclaviculary and level III axillary lymph node doses between breath cycles. Conclusion: Breath cycle had no significant effect on whole breast dose although significantly changed regional lymph node doses in patients with breast carcinoma receiving whole breast and regional lymph nodes radio-therapy. V20 dose was lower during DI than FB and EE, but the difference was not significant.

Current landscape and potential future applications of artificial intelligence in medical physics and radiotherapy

Artificial intelligence(AI)has seen tremendous growth over the past decade and stands to disrupts the medical industry.In medicine,this has been applied in medical imaging and other digitised medical disciplines,but in more traditional fields like medical physics,the adoption of AI is still at an early stage.Though AI is anticipated to be better than human in certain tasks,with the rapid growth of AI,there is increasing concerns for its usage.The focus of this paper is on the current landscape and potential future applications of artificial intelligence in medical physics and radiotherapy.Topics on AI for image acquisition,image segmentation,treatment delivery,quality assurance and outcome prediction will be explored as well as the interaction between human and AI.This will give insights into how we should approach and use the technology for enhancing the quality of clinical practice.

非共面照射野在舌癌放疗中对脊髓和下颌骨重点保护的效果评价

目的 :在舌癌术后放疗计划中重点保护脊髓和下颌骨的前提下,通过比较共面野与非共面野计划两者放疗剂量分布的差异,探讨非共面照射野在放疗计划中对脊髓和下颌骨的重点保护效果,从而选择合理放疗方案,以应对舌癌复发需再次放疗的可能性。方法:选择上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院口腔颌面-头颈肿瘤科在2018年2月—2023年2月收治的15例舌癌术后放疗患者作为研究对象,采用实际治疗的靶区作为计算目标,正常组织剂量限值参照国家标准,在其他参数保持不变的前提下,仅仅变动脊髓以及下颌骨的限量函数。函数采用serial函数,限量由低到高分为20、25、30、35、40,在Monaco计划系统中自动计算,对计划各个参数进行评价(靶区CI、HI、D98、D95、D5、D2),正常组织脊髓的最大量,腮腺、喉、下颌骨的平均量。采用SPSS 20.0软件包对数据进行统计学分析。结果:非共面野的各项评价指标优于共面野计划。共面野计划在serial函数限值为20、25时,靶区评价指标D98、D95、D5、D2形成剂量趋势曲线存在发散状态,靶区归一性较差。随着限值提高,2组计划的靶区剂量趋势曲线相差变小,靶区归一性基本统一。统计结果显示,相对于非共面野计划,共面野计划在seiral函数为20、25时,脊髓、左右侧腮腺、喉、下颌骨以及靶区的CI、HI的结果较差,2组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);特别在serial函数为20时差异值最大,HI指数差异为7.7%,CI差异为14%。随着限值提高,2组数据差异逐渐变小,多数评价指标差值有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:舌癌术后放疗计划中,在脊髓、下颌骨限量较为严格时,2组计划剂量差异较大,计划射野时建议选择非共面角度。随着限量提高,差异性逐渐变小。虽然多数指标仍存在统计学差异,但鉴于非共面野有转床的误差存在,计划射野时,可根据患者情况以及机器精度进行合理选择。

直肠癌调强放疗的临床计划质量优化和评估

目的:采用Plan IQ软件评估直肠癌调强放射治疗临床治疗计划和再优化计划的质量,为调强放疗计划筛选和优化提供方法和工具。方法:回顾性随机选取20例接受调强放疗的直肠癌患者,调强放疗技术(IMRT)和旋转容积调强技术(VMAT)计划各10例。(1)临床治疗计划设计(TP):IMRT计划采用5野等间距照射,VMAT计划采用2个360°弧旋转照射。处方剂量为PTV1:50 Gy/25 f;PTV2:45 Gy/25 f。所有计划均采用直接机器参数优化,且要求95%等剂量线能覆盖100%靶区体积,危及器官(OARs)参考耐受剂量标准来限制。计划完成后由医生审核确认,并经过计划剂量验证后实施治疗。(2)治疗计划再优化设计(RP):由1名有10年经验的计划设计者对20例TP计划进行重新优化,保持照射技术和照射野条件不变,根据个人经验重新调整计划优化条件和参数,直到OARs剂量尽可能低,且不影响PTV的目标覆盖率。用Plan IQ软件分别对TP和RP计划质量进行量化评估。两组计划之间剂量DVH参数和计划质量指数(PQI)行非参数的Wilcoxon符号秩检验。结果:RP计划的各DVH参数均优于TP计划,其中PTV1的D_(max)、小肠的V_(45 Gy)和D_(max)以及结肠的V_(45 Gy)的差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。IMRT组、VMAT组和所有患者的RP计划的质量评分均高于TP计划,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),其PQI分别为(88.55±3.35 vs 86.61±4.63,P=0.005)、(89.72±3.15 vs87.21±3.04,P=0.028)和(89.14±3.22 vs 86.91±3.22,P=0.001)。结论:计划再优化可以进一步提高直肠癌调强放疗的临床计划质量,Plan IQ软件为放疗计划质量控制和优质计划筛选提供了一种有效工具。

食管癌调强放疗计划中心与靶区中心位置偏差的研究

目的探索放疗计划设计时,当食管癌定位中心与靶区中心位置偏差在X(左右方向)、Y(头脚方向)、Z(上下方向)三维方向小于±15 mm时,计划中心的改变情况对放疗计划质量的影响。方法选取在商洛市中心医院接受食管癌放射治疗的40例患者为研究对象。首先以计划靶区(Planning Target Volume,PTV)中心为计划中心设计放疗计划,待计划优化完成后,将靶区中心沿X、Y、Z三个方向分别平移±5、±10、±15 mm,并以此点为计划中心,重新设计放疗计划,统计剂量学参数,评价计划的可行性。结果靶区、危及器官、计划执行效率指标差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。与计划中心在PTV中心组相比,其他组PTV最大剂量(D_(max))、最小剂量、平均剂量(D_(mean))、均匀性指数、适形度指数的变化范围(百分比)为:-0.15%~0.12%、-0.05%~0.05%、-0.07%~0.09%、-0.09%~0.28%、-0.36%~0.48%;肺V5(器官受到500 cGy剂量的体积百分比,其他以此类推)、V_(10)、V_(20)、V_(30)、D_(mean)最大偏差分别为0.68%、0.29%、0.40%、-0.14%、7.75 cGy;心脏V_(10)、V_(20)、V_(30)、V_(40)、D_(mean)最大偏差分别为0.66%、-0.30%、-0.47%、0.54%、-14.08 cGy;脊髓D_(max)最大偏差为28.98 cGy;机器跳数、计划执行时间、计划优化时间最大偏差分别为-34.01 MU、5.33 s、-6.09 s。结论当定位中心和靶区中心在X、Y、Z三个方向的位移小于±15 mm时,可以直接将定位中心作为计划中心进行放疗计划的设计,以便减少患者的复位时间和复位时的二次摆位误差。