Evaluation of the Impact of the Linac MLC and Gantry Sag in volumetric modulated arc therapy

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 1984-1994
Author(s):  
Thomas Milan ◽  
Garry Grogan ◽  
Martin A. Ebert ◽  
Pejman Rowshanfarzad
Keyword(s):  
Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy ◽  
Arc Therapy ◽  
The Impact

Choice of appropriate beam model and gantry rotational angle for low-dose gradient-based craniospinal irradiation using volumetric-modulated arc therapy

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biplab Sarkar ◽  
Anirudh Pradhan
Keyword(s):  
Low Dose ◽  
Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy ◽  
Craniospinal Irradiation ◽  
Leaf Width ◽  
Beam Model ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Arc Therapy ◽  
Prescription Dose ◽  
Flat Beam ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjectivesWe aimed to assess the impact of advanced multileaf collimator (MLC) models and flattening filter-free (3F) beam in volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT)-based craniospinal irradiation (CSI).MethodsCT scans of five medulloblastoma patients who previously received CSI at our hospital were used for the present study. Patients were planned for a prescription dose of 35 Gy to craniospinal axis. A three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) plan and a VMAT plan using 1 cm MLC leaf width were generated as the gold standard (reference arm). Test VMAT plans were generated using Agility MLC model (MLC leaf width 5 mm) for various combinations of flattened beam (F) and 3F beam for treating the brain and spine planning target volume (PTV). Organs at risks (OARs) were analysed for dose 5, 50, 75 and 90% volumes, mean dose and maximum dose.ResultsAll 3DCRT plans and VMAT plans were aimed to cover 95% of PTV by at least 95% prescription dose. VMAT demonstrated lesser dose spillage than 3DCRT to body volume minus PTV (NTID: non tumor integral dose) for a dose threshold above 7·5 Gy. For the low-dose range (1–7 Gy), variation between the dose coverage between all VMAT plans (for either spine or brain PTV) was <1%. Intra-VMAT plan dose variation for all OAR’s for all tested parameters was <1 Gy. Average monitor unit (MU) difference among different VMAT plans ranged between 1·52 and 2·13 when normalised to 3DCRT MU. For VMAT plans, flat beam with 1 cm MLC showed the highest MU, whereas Agility MLC with 3F beam had the least MU values for intra-VMAT plans. No statistical significance variation (p) was observed in between reference arm and test arm plans except for mean dose and V107% for PTV spine. When compared between reference arm 3DCRT and test arm VMAT plans. For OAR’s, no statistical difference was observed between reference and test arm VMAT plans.ConclusionsReference arm plans and test arm plans exhibit no statistically significant difference. However, as compared with 3DCRT, VMAT plans are more conformal and produce lesser dose to OAR at the cost of higher delivered MU. 3F beams or finer width MLC’s (width <5 mm) have no advantage over the conventional 1 cm MLC and flat beam except that 3F beams have a shorter beam delivery time. This study demonstrate a significantly lesser spillage dose to NTID/body that of the reported literature, which is attributed to limited rotational arc length used for VMAT plans.

scholarly journals Adjuvant volumetric modulated arc therapy compared to 3D conformal radiation therapy for newly diagnosed soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities: outcome and toxicity evaluation

2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (1102) ◽  
pp. 20190252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Di Brina ◽  
Antonella Fogliata ◽  
Pierina Navarria ◽  
Giuseppe D'Agostino ◽  
Ciro Franzese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Soft Tissue Sarcoma ◽  
Total Dose ◽  
Surgical Resection ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy ◽  
Conformal Radiation Therapy ◽  
Arc Therapy ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To assess the impact of adjuvant volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) compared with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) in terms of toxicity and local control (LC) in patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities. Methods: From 2004 to 2016, 109 patients were treated, initially using 3DCRT and subsequently with VMAT. Clinical outcome was evaluated by contrast-enhanced MRI, thoracic and abdominal CT 3 months after treatments and then every 6 months. Toxicity was evaluated with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events scale v. 4.3. Results: Patients presented Stage III soft tissue sarcoma disease (77%), localized tumor (95%) at the lower extremity (87%), adipocytic histotype (46%). Surgical resection was performed in all patients, followed by adjuvant 3DCRT in 38, and VMAT in 71. The median total dose was 66 Gy/33 fractions (range 60–70 Gy;25–35 fractions). More successful bone sparing was recorded using VMAT (p < 0.001). Median follow-up was 61 months, 93 and 58 months for 3DCRT and VMAT group, respectively. The 2- and 5 year LC were 95.3±2.1%, and 87.4±3.4% for the whole cohort, 92.0±4.5%, 82.9±6.4% for 3DCRT, 97.1±2.0%, 89.6±4.1% for VMAT (p = 0.150). On univariate and multivariate analysis the factors recorded as conditioning LC were the status of the surgical resection margins (p = 0.028) and the total dose delivered (p = 0.013). Conclusion: The availability of modern radiotherapy technique permit a better conformity on the target with maximum sparing of normal tissue and acceptable side-effects. VMAT is a safe and feasible treatment with limited rate of toxicity, compared to 3DCRT. Results on LC of VMAT are encouraging. Advances in knowledge: Soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities can benefit from the use of VMAT, with a reduction of the high dose to bones to avoid radiation osteonecrosis. An adequate total dose of at least 66 Gy and a radical surgical margin allow a good local control.

Effect of translational couch shifts in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans and predicting its impact on daily dose delivery

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-243
Author(s):  
Noufal M. Padannayil ◽  
Kallikuzhiyil K. Abdullah ◽  
Pallimanhayil A. R. Subha ◽  
Sanudev Sadanadan
Keyword(s):  
Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy ◽  
Target Volume ◽  
Normal Tissue Complication Probability ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Treatment Planning System ◽  
Equivalent Uniform Dose ◽  
Tumour Control ◽  
Matlab Code ◽  
Arc Therapy ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAimTo evaluate the impact of couch translational shifts on dose–volume histogram (DVH) and radiobiological parameters [tumour control probability (TCP), equivalent uniform dose (EUD) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP)] of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans and to develop a simple and swift method to predict the same online, on a daily basis.MethodsIn total, ten prostate patients treated with VMAT technology were selected for this study. The plans were generated using Eclipse TPS and delivered using Clinac ix LINAC equipped with a Millennium 120 multileaf collimator. In order to find the effect of systematic translational couch shifts on the DVH and radiobiological parameters, errors were introduced in the clinically accepted base plan with an increment of 1 mm and up to 5 mm from the iso-centre in both positive and negative directions of each of the three axis, x [right–left (R-L)], y [superior–inferior (S-I)] and z [anterior–posterior (A-P)]. The percentages of difference in these parameters (∆D, ∆TCP, ∆EUD and ∆NTCP) were analyzed between the base plan and the error introduced plans. DVHs of the base plan and the error plans were imported into the MATLAB software (R2013a) and an in-house MATLAB code was generated to find the best curve fitted polynomial functions for each point on the DVH, there by generating predicted DVH for planning target volume (PTV), clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risks (OARs). Functions f(x, vj), f(y, vj) and f(z, vj) were found to represent the variation in the dose when there are couch translation shifts in R-L, S-I and A-P directions, respectively. The validation of this method was done by introducing daily couch shifts and comparing the treatment planning system (TPS) generated DVHs and radiobiological parameters with MATLAB code predicted parameters.ResultsIt was noted that the variations in the dose to the CTV, due to both systematic and random shifts, were very small. For CTV and PTV, the maximum variations in both DVH and radiobiological parameters were observed in the S-I direction than in the A-P or R-L directions. ∆V70 Gy and ∆V60 Gy of the bladder varied more due to S-I shift whereas, ∆V40 Gy, ∆EUD and ∆NTCP varied due to A-P shifts. All the parameters in rectum were most affected by the A-P shifts than the shifts in other two directions. The maximum percentage of deviation between the TPS calculated and MATLAB predicted DVHs of plans were calculated for targets and OARs and were found to be less than 0·5%.ConclusionThe variations in the parameters depend upon the direction and magnitude of the shift. The DVH curves generated by the TPS and predicted by the MATLAB showed good correlation.

scholarly journals 11-year workload and barrier analysis for a high-energy linear accelerator

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabela Rodrigues Rigo ◽  
Ana Paula Vollet Cunha ◽  
Caroline Zeppellini dos Santos Emiliozzi ◽  
Gisela Menegussi
Keyword(s):  
Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy ◽  
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Barrier Analysis ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Arc Therapy ◽  
Conservative Estimation ◽  
Leakage Radiation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Total Workload

The formalism used for barriers calculations is based on a conservative estimation of workload, use factor, and occupancy factor. IMRT techniques (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) and VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy) are known for being superior to conventional techniques, but costly from the shielding standpoint, as they increase the number of monitor units used to deliver the same dose to the patient, increasing the leakage radiation produced and, consequently, the thickness of the secondary barriers. At InRad (Radiology Institute of HC-FMUSP) a 2100CD LINAC already installed was upgraded to perform IMRT/VMAT techniques, and the existing barrier was reassessed. The present study proposes a methodology for acquiring real workload data from the institution's management software (MOSAIQ®) to replace the initially estimated data and recalculate the thickness of the barriers, assessing the impact of the introduction of these techniques and understanding the profile of the treatments carried out at the institution over the years of 2010 to 2020. Through this methodology, a decrease in the workload of 15 MV was observed as the technique of modulated intensity with 6 MV was introduced, reducing the thicknesses calculated for primary barriers. However, no significant changes were observed in the thicknesses calculated for the secondary barriers, because despite the increase in the leakage workload of 6 MV, the total workload of 15 MV decreased. There was also a trend towards an increase in the number of patients treated with modulated intensity year after year, which went from 5% in 2016 to 67% in 2020.

scholarly journals Impact of delivery characteristics on dose delivery accuracy of volumetric modulated arc therapy for different treatment sites

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 603-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaqi Li ◽  
Xile Zhang ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Rongtao Jiang ◽  
Jing Sui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy ◽  
Dose Delivery ◽  
Small Aperture ◽  
Passing Rates ◽  
Pearson's R ◽  
Arc Therapy ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Delivery Accuracy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pearson’S R

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the impact of delivery characteristics on the dose delivery accuracy of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for different treatment sites. The pretreatment quality assurance (QA) results of 344 VMAT patients diagnosed with gynecological (GYN), head and neck (H&N), rectal or prostate cancer were randomly chosen in this study. Ten metrics reflecting VMAT delivery characteristics were extracted from the QA plans. Compared with GYN and rectal plans, H&N and prostate plans had higher aperture complexity and monitor units (MU), and smaller aperture area. Prostate plans had the smallest aperture area and lowest leaf speed compared with other plans (P < 0.001). No differences in gantry speed were found among the four sites. The gamma passing rates (GPRs) of GYN, rectal and H&N plans were inversely associated with union aperture area (UAA) and leaf speed (Pearson’s r: −0.39 to −0.68). GPRs of prostate plans were inversely correlated with aperture complexity, MU and small aperture score (SAS) (absolute Pearson’s r: 0.34 to 0.49). Significant differences in GPR between high SAS and low SAS subgroups were found only when leaf speed was <0.42 cm s–1 (P < 0.001). No association of GPR with gantry speed was found in four sites. Leaf speed was more strongly associated with UAA. Aperture complexity and MU were more strongly associated with SAS. VMAT plans from different sites have distinct delivery characteristics. Affecting dose delivery accuracy, leaf speed is the key factor for GYN, rectal and H&N plans, while aperture complexity, MU and small apertures have a higher influence on prostate plans.

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