PURPOSE The purpose of this work is to apply a novel inverse optimization approach, based on utilization of quantitative imaging information in the optimization function, to prostate carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS This new inverse optimization algorithm relies upon quantitative information derived from computed tomography (CT) imaging studies. The Hounsfield numbers of the CT voxels are con...

PURPOSE To compare the fits of normal-tissue complication probability (NTCP) models based on rectal dose-wall histograms (DWHs) vs. dose-volume histograms (DVHs) when the two are used to analyze a common set of late rectal toxicity data. METHODS AND MATERIALS Data were analyzed from 128 prostate cancer patients treated with 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) at The University of Te...

The aim of this study was to observe the relationship between dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters and rectal late side effects (LSE) in computed tomography (CT)-based brachytherapy (BT) for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. In total, 144 cervical cancer patients received external beam radiotherapy and CT-based BT. The data from 111 survival cases with pelvic local control (LC) ...

PURPOSE Develop a decision support tool that aids dosimetrists, physicians, and physicists in assessing and improving plan quality through comparison to plans previously used in similar clinical situations. METHODS Software was developed to capture and store DVHs and other clinically relevant treatment plan characteristics in a database. In addition to the plan DVH, the database contains a to...

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the implant quality between intraoperatively built custom-linked seeds (IBCL) and loose seeds (LS) retrospectively. Material and methods This study included 74 prostate cancer patients who were treated with permanent prostate brachytherapy (PPB) using IBCL (n = 37) or LS (n = 37) between July 2014 and June 2016. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) paramete...

PURPOSE To describe a multiplan intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) planning framework, and to describe a decision support system (DSS) for ranking multiple plans and modeling the planning surface. METHODS AND MATERIALS One hundred twenty-five plans were generated sequentially for a head-and-neck case and a pelvic case by varying the dose-volume constraints on each of the organs at risk (...

BACKGROUND Radiation-induced rib fracture has been reported as a late complication after external radiotherapy to the chest. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics and risk factors of rib fracture after hypofractionated proton beam therapy (PBT). MATERIAL AND METHODS The retrospective study comprised 67 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were treated using PBT of...

PURPOSE To investigate dosimetric consequences of patient metal prosthesis in prostate radiotherapy, considering the body heterogeneity, metal artifacts, prostate daily displacements and target delineation. METHODS Three prostate patients with metal prosthesis were simulated with CT images and 3D ultrasound images. Conformal RT treatment plans were generated based on target volumes delineated...

A commercialized implementation of linear Boltzmann transport equation solver, the Acuros XB algorithm (AXB), represents a class of most advanced type 'c' photon radiotherapy dose calculation algorithms. The purpose of the study was to quantify the effects of the modifications implemented in the more recent version 11 of the AXB (AXB11) compared to the first commercial implementation, version 1...

In the present study, we describe a method based on the analysis of the dynamic MLC log files (DynaLog) generated by the controller of a Varian linear accelerator in order to perform patient-specific IMRT QA. The DynaLog files of a Varian Millennium MLC, recorded during an IMRT treatment, can be processed using a MATLAB-based code in order to generate the actual fluence for each beam and so rec...