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Evaluating Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy Relative to Passive Scattering Proton Therapy for Increased Vertebral Column Sparing in CSI of Pediatric Patients


J Seco

J Seco*, D Giantsoudi, BR Eaton, JA Adams, H Paganetti, S MacDonald, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Presentations

SU-E-T-369 (Sunday, July 12, 2015) 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Room: Exhibit Hall


Purpose:
To investigate the trade-off between vertebral column sparing and thecal-sac target coverage in craniospinal irradiation (CSI) of pediatric patients treated with passive-scattering (PS) and intensity modulated (IMPT) proton therapy.

Methods:
We selected 2 pediatric patients treated with PS CSI for medulloblastoma. Spinal irradiation was re-planned with IMPT. For all cases, we assumed prescription dose of 23.4 Gy(RBE), with the spinal canal receiving at least 95% of 23.4 Gy(RBE). PS planning was performed using the commercial system XiO. IMPT planning was done using the Astroid planning system. Beam arrangements consisted of (a) PS posterior-anterior (PA) field, PS-PA, (b) IMPT PA field, IMPT-PA, and (c) two posterior oblique IMPT fields, IMPT2 (-35°, 35°). Dose distributions were re-calculated using TOPAS Monte Carlo, along with LET distributions, to investigate LET variations within the target and vertebra anatomy. Variable RBE-weighed dose distributions were also calculated based on a dose and LET-dependent biophysical model. Dosimetric data were compared among the plans for the target volume, spinal cord and adjacent critical organs (thecal-sac and cauda equina).

Results:
IMPT2 resulted in better sparing of the posterior vertebral column (entrance region posterior to thecal-sac), where planned dose was approximately 6-8Gy(RBE). For IMPT-PA and PS-PA the MC-calculated dose to the posterior vertebral column was, on average, 20Gy and 18Gy respectively. For IMPT2 higher mean-LET (5keV/μm/(g/cm3)) values were observed in anterior vertebral column (beyond the thecal-sac) relative to IMPT-PA and PS-PA, where mean-LET was 3.5keV/μm/(g/cm3) and 2.5keV/μm/(g/cm3) respectively. The higher LET region observed for both IMPT plans was in the distal end of treatment fields, where dose delivered was less 5Gy(RBE).

Conclusion:
The two-oblique proton beams IMPT2 best spared the spinal column, while reducing the dose to the posterior spinal column from 18-20 to 6-8 Gy(RBE). The best LET distribution was obtained with the PS-PA fields.


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