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Penalization of aperture complexity in inversely planned volumetric modulated arc therapy.

ABSTRACT: Apertures obtained during volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) planning can be small and irregular, resulting in dosimetric inaccuracies during delivery. Our purpose is to develop and integrate an aperture-regularization objective function into the optimization process for VMAT, and to quantify the impact of using this objective function on dose delivery accuracy and optimized dose distributions.An aperture-based metric ("edge penalty") was developed that penalizes complex aperture shapes based on the ratio of MLC side edge length and aperture area. To assess the utility of the metric, VMAT plans were created for example paraspinal, brain, and liver SBRT cases with and without incorporating the edge penalty in the cost function. To investigate the dose calculation accuracy, Gafchromic EBT2 film was used to measure the 15 highest weighted apertures individually and as a composite from each of two paraspinal plans: one with and one without the edge penalty applied. Films were analyzed using a triple-channel nonuniformity correction and measurements were compared directly to calculations.Apertures generated with the edge penalty were larger, more regularly shaped and required up to 30% fewer monitor units than those created without the edge penalty. Dose volume histogram analysis showed that the changes in doses to targets, organs at risk, and normal tissues were negligible. Edge penalty apertures that were measured with film for the paraspinal plan showed a notable decrease in the number of pixels disagreeing with calculation by more than 10%. For a 5% dose passing criterion, the number of pixels passing in the composite dose distributions for the non-edge penalty and edge penalty plans were 52% and 96%, respectively. Employing gamma with 3% dose/1 mm distance criteria resulted in a 79.5% (without penalty)/95.4% (with penalty) pass rate for the two plans. Gradient compensation of 3%/1 mm resulted in 83.3%/96.2% pass rates.The use of the edge penalty during optimization has the potential to markedly improve dose delivery accuracy for VMAT plans while still maintaining high quality optimized dose distributions. The penalty regularizes aperture shape and improves delivery efficiency.

SUBMITTER: Younge KC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3505204 | biostudies-other | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:Background and purposeThe interplay effect of respiratory motion on the planned dose in free-breathing right-sided whole-breast irradiation (WBI) were studied by simulating hypofractionated VMAT treatment courses.Materials and methodsTen patients with phase-triggered 4D-CT images were included in the study. VMAT plans targeting the right breast were created retrospectively with moderately hypofractionated (40.05 Gy in 15 fractions of 2.67 Gy) and ultra-hypofractionated (26 Gy 5 fractions of 5.2 Gy) schemes. 3D-CRT plans were generated as a reference. All plans were divided into respiratory phase-specific plans and calculated in the corresponding phase images. Fraction-specific dose was formed by deforming and summing the phase-specific doses in the planning image for each fraction. The fraction-specific dose distributions were deformed and superimposed onto the planning image, forming the course-specific respiratory motion perturbed dose distribution. Planned and respiratory motion perturbed doses were compared and changes due to respiratory motion and choice of fractionation were evaluated.ResultsThe respiratory motion perturbed PTV coverage (V95%) decreased by 1.7% and the homogeneity index increased by 0.02 for VMAT techniques, compared to the planned values. Highest decrease in CTV coverage was 0.7%. The largest dose differences were located in the areas of steep dose gradients parallel to respiratory motion. The largest difference in DVH parameters between fractionation schemes was 0.4% of the prescribed dose. Clinically relevant changes to the doses of organs at risk were not observed. One patient was excluded from the analysis due to large respiratory amplitude.ConclusionRespiratory motion of less than 5 mm in magnitude did not result in clinically significant changes in the planned free-breathing WBI dose. The 5 mm margins were sufficient to account for the respiratory motion in terms of CTV dose homogeneity and coverage for VMAT techniques. Steep dose gradients near the PTV edges might decrease the CTV coverage. No clinical significance was found due to the choice of fractionation.

Project description:PurposeTo assess the impact of the planner's experience and optimization algorithm on the plan quality and complexity of total marrow and lymphoid irradiation (TMLI) delivered by means of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) over 2010-2022 at our institute.MethodsEighty-two consecutive TMLI plans were considered. Three complexity indices were computed to characterize the plans in terms of leaf gap size, irregularity of beam apertures, and modulation complexity. Dosimetric points of the target volume (D2%) and organs at risk (OAR) (Dmean) were automatically extracted to combine them with plan complexity and obtain a global quality score (GQS). The analysis was stratified based on the different optimization algorithms used over the years, including a knowledge-based (KB) model. Patient-specific quality assurance (QA) using Portal Dosimetry was performed retrospectively, and the gamma agreement index (GAI) was investigated in conjunction with plan complexity.ResultsPlan complexity significantly reduced over the years (r = -0.50, p < 0.01). Significant differences in plan complexity and plan dosimetric quality among the different algorithms were observed. Moreover, the KB model allowed to achieve significantly better dosimetric results to the OARs. The plan quality remained similar or even improved during the years and when moving to a newer algorithm, with GQS increasing from 0.019 ± 0.002 to 0.025 ± 0.003 (p < 0.01). The significant correlation between GQS and time (r = 0.33, p = 0.01) indicated that the planner's experience was relevant to improve the plan quality of TMLI plans. Significant correlations between the GAI and the complexity metrics (r = -0.71, p < 0.01) were also found.ConclusionBoth the planner's experience and algorithm version are crucial to achieve an optimal plan quality in TMLI plans. Thus, the impact of the optimization algorithm should be carefully evaluated when a new algorithm is introduced and in system upgrades. Knowledge-based strategies can be useful to increase standardization and improve plan quality of TMLI treatments.

Project description:PurposeTo create and to validate knowledge-based volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) models for breast cancer treatments without lymph node irradiation.Materials and methodsOne hundred VMAT-based breast plans (manual plans [MP]) were selected to create two knowledge-based VMAT models (breast left and breast right) using RapidPlan™. The plans were generated on Eclipse v15.5 (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) with 6 MV of a Novalis Tx equipped with a high-resolution multileaf collimator. The models were verified based on goodness-of-fit statistics using the coefficients of determination (R 2) and Chi-square (χ2), and the goodness-of-estimation statistics through the mean square error (MSE). Geometrical and dosimetrical constraints were identified and removed from the RP models using statistical evaluation metrics and plots. For validation, 20 plans that integrate the models and 20 plans that do not were reoptimized with RP (closed and opened validation). Dosimetrical parameters of interest were used to compare MP versus RP plans for the Heart, Homolateral_Lung, Contralateral_Lung, and Contralateral_Breast. Optimization planning time and user independency were also analyzed.ResultsThe most unfavorable results of R2 in both models for the organs at risk were as follows: for Contralateral_Lung 0.51 in RP right breast (RP_RB) and for Heart 0.60 in RP left breast (RP_LB). The most unfavorable results of χ2 test were: for Contralateral_Breast 1.02 in RP_RB and for Heart 1.03 in RP_LB. These goodness-of-fit results show that no overfitting occurred in either of the models. There were no unfavorable results of mean square error (MSE, all < 0.05) in any of the two models. These goodness-of-estimation results show that the models have good estimation power. For closed validation, significant differences were found in RP_RB for Homolateral_Lung (all P ≤ 0.001), and in the RP_LB differences were found for the heart (all P ≤ 0.04) and for Homolateral_Lung (all P ≤ 0.022). For open validation, no statistically significant differences were obtained in either of the models. RP models had little impact on reducing optimization planning times for expert planners; nevertheless, the result showed a 30% reduction time for beginner planners. The use of RP models generates high-quality plans, without differences from the planner experience.ConclusionTwo RP models for breast cancer treatment using VMAT were successfully implemented. The use of RP models for breast cancer reduces the optimization planning time and improves the efficiency of the treatment planning process while ensuring high-quality plans.

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Penalization of aperture complexity in inversely planned volumetric modulated arc therapy.

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