In this paper we present the results of a dosimetric evaluation of a 2D ionization chamber array with the objective of its implementation for quality assurance in clinical routine. The pixel ionization chamber MatriXX (Scanditronix Wellhofer, Germany) consists of 32x32 chambers with a distance of 7.6 mm between chamber centres. The effective depth of measurement under the surface of the detecto...

The capability of the TrueBeam treatment system to deliver step and shoot IMRT plans at low dose rates was evaluated. Beam characteristics during low dose rates (5 to 100 MU/min) were evaluated for consistency using a planar ion chamber array. MU constancy, linearity, and beam profile symmetry were all found to be equivalent within 0.5%. The response of the Scandi Dos Delta 4 system was also ev...

A common way to solve intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) optimization problems is to use a beamlet-based approach. The approach is usually employed in a three-step manner: first a beamlet-weight optimization problem is solved, then the fluence profiles are converted into step-and-shoot segments, and finally postoptimization of the segment weights is performed. A drawback of beamlet-ba...

In inverse planning for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), the dose specification and related weighting factor of an objective function for involved organs is usually predefined by a single value and then iteratively optimized, subject to a set of dose-volume constraints. Because the actual dose distribution is essentially non-uniform and considerably affected by the geometric shape ...

The first purpose of this paper is to shed some new light on the old question of selecting the number of beams in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The second purpose is to illuminate the related issue of discrete static beam angles versus rotational techniques, which has recently re-surfaced due to the advancement of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). A specific objective is ...

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has found widespread clinical application in recent years. A large number of treatment planning studies have evaluated the potential for VMAT for different disease sites based on the currently available commercial implementations of VMAT planning. In contrast, literature on the underlying mathematical optimization methods used in treatment planning is sca...

The aim of this study was to compare IMRT optimization in the CMS XiO radiotherapy treatment planning system, with and without segment weight optimization. Twenty-one prostate cancer patients were selected for this study. All patients were initially planned with step-and-shoot IMRT (S-IMRT). A new plan was then created for each patient by applying the segment weight optimization tool (SWO-IMRT)...

Since the clinical implementation of novel rotational forms of intensity-modulated radiotherapy, a variety of planning studies have been published that reinforce the major selling points of the technique. Namely, comparable or even improved dose distributions with a reduction in both monitor units and treatment times, when compared with static gantry intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Although t...