This study was performed to explore and compare the dosimetric variance caused by respiratory movement in the breast during forward-planned IMRT after breast-conserving surgery. A total of 17 enrolled patients underwent the 3DCT simulation scans followed by 4DCT simulation scans during free breathing. The treatment planning constructed using the 3DCT images was copied and applied to the end exp...

PURPOSE To develop a GPU-based Monte Carlo (MC) 3D dosimetry quality assurance (QA) tool employing patient geometry and actual delivery information. METHODS First, we generate fluence maps at all beam angles from the initial treatment plan. A GPU-based MC dose engine, gDPM, is employed for the secondary dose calculation (SDC) on patient CT. This SDC is used to verify the TPS plan dose (PD) ac...

A model based on a specific phantom, called QuAArC, has been designed for the evaluation of planning and verification systems of complex radiotherapy treatments, such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). This model uses the high accuracy provided by the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of log files and allows the experimental feedback from the high spatial resolution of films hosted in QuAArC...

PURPOSE Brachytherapy is a vital part of treating locally advanced cervix cancer. Point-based 2D treatment planning is conventionally used. New CT/MRI-compatible applicators for HDR brachytherapy make 3D conformal planning possible. GEC-ESTRO endorsed the EMBRACE (intErnational study on MRI-guided BRachytherapy in locally Advanced CErvical cancer) protocol which recommends standard-plan-based m...

The clinical application of the flattening filter-free photon beam (FFF) has enjoyed greater use due to its advantage of reduced treatment time because of the increased dose rate. Its unique beam characteristics, along with the very high-dose rate, require a thorough knowledge of the capability and accuracy in FFF beam modeling, planning, and delivery. This work verifies the feasibility of mode...

PURPOSE To evaluate whether Co-60 is equivalent to Ir-192 for HDR cervical brachytherapy, through 3D-DVH dose comparisons in standard and optimised plans. Previous studies have only considered 2D dosimetry, point dose comparisons or identical loading. Typical treatment times and economics are considered. MATERIAL AND METHODS Plans were produced for eight cervix patients using Co-60 and Ir-192...

The purpose of this paper is to provide data on development of second primary cancers within or adjacent to tissue irradiated in the treatment of primary head and neck cancers using different techniques and modalities. Materials and methods: We selected five patients with HandN tumors located in base of the tongue for risk assessment. In order to examine the impact of choices of various plannin...

BACKGROUND The development of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-RT) has enabled the restriction of the dose to normal lung, limiting radiation-induced lung injury. OBJECTIVES This study was designed to describe the time course of lung function until 7.5 months after 3D-RT in patients with lung cancer, and assess the relationship between lung function changes and dose-volume histogr...

BACKGROUND Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) dosimetry verification is routinely conducted via integrated or individual field dosimetry using film or a matrix of detectors. Techniques and software systems are commercially available which use individual field dosimetry measurements as input into algorithms that estimate 3D patient dose distributions on CT scan derived target volumes a...

BACKGROUND To appraise the robustness of VMAT dose distributions against uncertainties in the positioning of the patients when single fraction SABRT treatments are planned. METHODS A set of 18 patients (8 lung, 5 brain, 5 spinal or para-spinal) treated with VMAT in a single fraction of 24Gy were retrospectively analyzed. All approved plans were re-calculated by applying shifts to the isocentr...