Program Information
Investigation of Simultaneous Optimization of Photon and Electron Apertures for Mixed Beam Radiotherapy Based On An Academic Case
S Mueller1*, A Joosten1, MK Fix1, D Henzen1, W Volken1, D Frei1, MFM Stampanoni2, P Manser1, (1) Division of Medical Radiation Physics and Department of Radiation Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Switzerland, (2) Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zuerich and PSI, Villigen, Switzerland
Presentations
SU-F-T-89 (Sunday, July 31, 2016) 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Room: Exhibit Hall
Purpose:
To estimate the dosimetric potential of mixed beam radiotherapy (MBRT) by using a single process optimizing the shape and weight of photon and electron apertures simultaneously based on Monte Carlo beamlet dose distributions.
Methods:
A simulated annealing based direct aperture optimization capable to perform simultaneous optimization was developed to generate treatment plans for MERT, photon-IMRT and MBRT. Both photon and electron apertures are collimated with the photon-MLC and are delivered in a segmented manner. For dosimetric comparison and for investigating the dependency on the number of apertures, photon-IMRT, MERT and MBRT plans were generated for an academic case consisting of a water phantom containing two shallow PTVs differing in the maximal depth of 5 and 7 cm, respectively and two OARs in distal and lateral direction to the PTVs.
Results:
For the superficial PTV, the dose homogeneity (V95%-V107%) and the mean dose (in percent of the prescribed dose) to the distal and the lateral OARs of the MBRT plan (94.9%, 16.9%, 17.8%) are superior or comparable to those for the MERT (74%, 18.4%, 15.4%) and the photon-IMRT plan (89.4%, 20.8%, 24.7%). For the enlarged PTV, the dosimetric superiority of MBRT compared to MERT and photon-IMRT is even more pronounced. Furthermore, an MBRT plan with 12 electron and 10 photon apertures lead to an objective function value 38% lower than that of a photon-IMRT plan with 40 apertures.
Conclusion:
The results of simultaneous optimization for MBRT are promising with regards to further OAR sparing and improved dose coverage to the PTV compared to photon-IMRT and MERT. Especially superficial targets with deeper subparts (>5 cm) could substantially benefit. Moreover, MBRT seems to be a possible solution of two downsides of photon-IMRT, namely the extended low dose bath and the requirement of numerous apertures. This work was supported by Varian Medical Systems.
Funding Support, Disclosures, and Conflict of Interest: This work was supported by Varian Medical Systems.
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