A dose optimization method for electron radiotherapy using randomized aperture beams.
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A dose optimization method for electron radiotherapy using randomized aperture beams. / Engel, Konrad; Gauer, Tobias.
In: PHYS MED BIOL, Vol. 54, No. 17, 17, 2009, p. 5253-5270.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A dose optimization method for electron radiotherapy using randomized aperture beams.
AU - Engel, Konrad
AU - Gauer, Tobias
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The present paper describes the entire optimization process of creating a radiotherapy treatment plan for advanced electron irradiation. Special emphasis is devoted to the selection of beam incidence angles and beam energies as well as to the choice of appropriate subfields generated by a refined version of intensity segmentation and a novel random aperture approach. The algorithms have been implemented in a stand-alone programme using dose calculations from a commercial treatment planning system. For this study, the treatment planning system Pinnacle from Philips has been used and connected to the optimization programme using an ASCII interface. Dose calculations in Pinnacle were performed by Monte Carlo simulations for a remote-controlled electron multileaf collimator (MLC) from Euromechanics. As a result, treatment plans for breast cancer patients could be significantly improved when using randomly generated aperture beams. The combination of beams generated through segmentation and randomization achieved the best results in terms of target coverage and sparing of critical organs. The treatment plans could be further improved by use of a field reduction treatment plans could be further improved by use of a field reduction algorithm. Without a relevant loss in dose distribution, the total number of MLC fields and monitor units could be reduced by up to 20%. In conclusion, using randomized aperture beams is a promising new approach in radiotherapy and exhibits potential for further improvements in dose optimization through a combination of randomized electron and photon aperture beams.
AB - The present paper describes the entire optimization process of creating a radiotherapy treatment plan for advanced electron irradiation. Special emphasis is devoted to the selection of beam incidence angles and beam energies as well as to the choice of appropriate subfields generated by a refined version of intensity segmentation and a novel random aperture approach. The algorithms have been implemented in a stand-alone programme using dose calculations from a commercial treatment planning system. For this study, the treatment planning system Pinnacle from Philips has been used and connected to the optimization programme using an ASCII interface. Dose calculations in Pinnacle were performed by Monte Carlo simulations for a remote-controlled electron multileaf collimator (MLC) from Euromechanics. As a result, treatment plans for breast cancer patients could be significantly improved when using randomly generated aperture beams. The combination of beams generated through segmentation and randomization achieved the best results in terms of target coverage and sparing of critical organs. The treatment plans could be further improved by use of a field reduction treatment plans could be further improved by use of a field reduction algorithm. Without a relevant loss in dose distribution, the total number of MLC fields and monitor units could be reduced by up to 20%. In conclusion, using randomized aperture beams is a promising new approach in radiotherapy and exhibits potential for further improvements in dose optimization through a combination of randomized electron and photon aperture beams.
KW - Humans
KW - Algorithms
KW - Breast Neoplasms radiotherapy
KW - Electrons therapeutic use
KW - Monte Carlo Method
KW - Radiation Dosage
KW - Radiotherapy Dosage
KW - Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted methods
KW - Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated instrumentation
KW - Humans
KW - Algorithms
KW - Breast Neoplasms radiotherapy
KW - Electrons therapeutic use
KW - Monte Carlo Method
KW - Radiation Dosage
KW - Radiotherapy Dosage
KW - Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted methods
KW - Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated instrumentation
M3 - SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz
VL - 54
SP - 5253
EP - 5270
JO - PHYS MED BIOL
JF - PHYS MED BIOL
SN - 0031-9155
IS - 17
M1 - 17
ER -
