Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1993. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-207).

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The goal of conformal radiation techniques is to improve local tumour control through dose escalation to target volumes while at the same time sparing surrounding healthy tissue. Respiratory motion is known to be the largest intra-fractional organ motion and the most significant source of uncertainty in treatment planning for chest lesions. A method to account for the effects of respiratory motion is to use four-dimensional radiotherapy. While analytical models are useful, it is essential that the motion problem in radiotherapy is addressed by both modeling as well as experimentally studies so that different obstacles can be overcome before clinical implementation of a motion compensation method. Validation of techniques aimed at measuring and minimizing the effects of respiratory motion require a realistic dynamic deformable phantom for use as a gold standard. In this work we present the design, construction, performance and deformable image registration of a novel breathing, tissue equivalent phantom with a deformable lung that can reproducibly emulate 3D non-isotropic lung deformations according to any real lung-like breathing pattern. The phantom consists of a Lucite cylinder filled with water containing a latex balloon stuffed with dampened natural sponges. The balloon is attached to a piston that mimics the human diaphragm. Nylon wires and Lucite beads, emulating vascular and bronchial bifurcations, were glued at various locations, uniformly throughout the sponges. The phantom is capable of simulating programmed irregular breathing patterns with varying periods and amplitudes. A deformable, tissue equivalent tumour, suitable for holding radiochromic film for dose measurements was embedded in the sponge. Experiments for 3D motion assessment, motion reproducibility as well as deformable image registration and validation are presented using the deformable phantom.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility of using a knowledge base of prior treatment plans to generate new prostate intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans. Each new case would be matched against others in the knowledge base. Once the best match is identified, that clinically approved plan is used to generate the new plan. METHODS: A database of 100 prostate IMRT treatment plans was assembled into an information-theoretic system. An algorithm based on mutual information was implemented to identify similar patient cases by matching 2D beam's eye view projections of contours. Ten randomly selected query cases were each matched with the most similar case from the database of prior clinically approved plans. Treatment parameters from the matched case were used to develop new treatment plans. A comparison of the differences in the dose-volume histograms between the new and the original treatment plans were analyzed. RESULTS: On average, the new knowledge-based plan is capable of achieving very comparable planning target volume coverage as the original plan, to within 2% as evaluated for D98, D95, and D1. Similarly, the dose to the rectum and dose to the bladder are also comparable to the original plan. For the rectum, the mean and standard deviation of the dose percentage differences for D20, D30, and D50 are 1.8% +/- 8.5%, -2.5% +/- 13.9%, and -13.9% +/- 23.6%, respectively. For the bladder, the mean and standard deviation of the dose percentage differences for D20, D30, and D50 are -5.9% +/- 10.8%, -12.2% +/- 14.6%, and -24.9% +/- 21.2%, respectively. A negative percentage difference indicates that the new plan has greater dose sparing as compared to the original plan. CONCLUSIONS: The authors demonstrate a knowledge-based approach of using prior clinically approved treatment plans to generate clinically acceptable treatment plans of high quality. This semiautomated approach has the potential to improve the efficiency of the treatment planning process while ensuring that high quality plans are developed. / Dissertation

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2008. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

INTRODUÇÃO: Na Radioterapia, a acurácia da distribuição de dose em cálculos com correção de heterogeneidade está diretamente relacionada à escolha do algoritmo de cálculo. Existe uma variedade de algoritmos de cálculo disponíveis no mercado, variando em tempo de processamento e acurácia. Este estudo teve como objetivos quantificar a acurácia de dez diferentes algoritmos de cálculo em objetos simuladores de pulmão e analisar o impacto da escolha do algoritmo na distribuição de dose em radioterapia aplicada a tumores de pulmão. METODOLOGIA: Foram utilizados placas simuladoras de água (água sólida RW3) e pulmão (cortiça) para determinar a Porcentagem de Dose em Profundidade (PDP) e perfil transversal dentro da heterogeneidade (cortiça). As medidas foram realizadas em um Clinac Varian 6EX, com feixes de fótons de 6 MV e dois tamanhos de campo (5 x 5 cm2 e 10 x 10 cm2), irradiando-se filmes radiocrômicos Gafchromic EBT3 e câmara de ionização Scanditronix Wellhofer CC13. Planejamentos de 25 pacientes - 11 com técnica tridimendional (3D) e 14 com técnica de Radioterapia Estereotática Corpórea (SBRT) - foram realizados, inicialmente sem correção de heterogeneidade e, mantendo-se as UM, os cálculos com os diferentes algoritmos/métodos de correção foram comparados com o planejamento inicial. Foram avaliados as doses no volume alvo e nos órgãos em risco. RESULTADOS: As medidas realizadas em objetos simuladores revelaram que os algoritmos baseados no princípio da convolução (Eclipse® Pencil Beam Convolution com métodos de correção Batho, Batho Modificado e TAR equivalente; XiO® Clarkson e Convolution e iPlan® Pencil Beam) apresentaram diferenças de dose significativas na região da cortiça, sempre superestimando a medida, com uma sobredose superior a 8%. Algoritmos mais avançados, como o Eclipse® AAA e Acuros XB, XiO® Superposition e iPlan® XVMC, apresentaram desvios inferiores a 3% na região da heterogeneidade. A análise dos perfis mostra, igualmente, que a segunda classe de algoritmos apresenta melhor comportamento em meios de baixa densidade como a cortiça. A largura da penumbra apresentou desvios inferiores a 1 mm para os algoritmos mais avançados contra diferenças de até 4,5 mm entre os algoritmos baseados em convolução. A análise da distribuição de dose em planejamentos de tumores pulmonares mostrou que todos os cálculos com correção de heterogeneidade presentam doses superiores ao cálculo sem correção de heterogeneidade. O histograma dose-volume (DVH) do volume alvo sofreu um impacto maior do que dos órgãos em risco. Os cálculos realizados com algoritmos baseados em convolução apresentaram distribuições de dose semelhantes entre si, porém diferentes das do cálculo sem correção de heterogeneidade. Eclipse® AAA, Acuros XB, XiO® Superposition e iPlan® XVMC apresentaram distribuições de dose também semelhantes, porém Eclipse® Acuros XB e iPlan® XVMC são ainda mais similares. Os planejamentos de SBRT apresentaram resultados mais discrepantes do cálculo sem correção de heterogeneidade do que os planejamentos 3D. CONCLUSÕES: Os diferentes algoritmos de cálculo disponíveis possuem acurácias diferentes em meios de baixa densidade eletrônica. Essas diferenças possuem impacto nas distribuições de dose em planejamentos de tratamento de tumores pulmonares, sendo o impacto ainda maior para a técnica de SBRT. Entre os algoritmos avaliados, há pelo menos um de cada fabricante que apresentou bom desempenho em objetos simuladores de pulmão e que devem ser priorizados para o cálculo em planejamentos de tratamentos de câncer de pulmão / INTRODUCTION: In Radiotherapy, the dose distribution accuracy in heterogeneity correction calculations is directly related to the choice of calculation algorithm. There are many calculation algorithms commercially available. They vary in accuracy and processing time. This study aimed to quantify the accuracy of ten different calculation algorithms in lung equivalent material and to analyze the impact of the algorithm choice in the dose distribution in Radiotherapy applied to lung tumors. METHODS: It was used plates of water (solid water RW3) and lung (cork) equivalent materials to determine the Percentage of Depth Dose (PDD) and transversal profile inside the heterogeneity (cork). The measurements were performed in a Clinac Varian 6EX, with 6 MV photon beams and two field sizes (5 x 5 cm2 and 10 x 10 cm2), through irradiation of radiochromic films Gafchromic EBT3 and ionization chamber Scanditronix Wellhofer CC13. Treatment planning of 25 patients - 11 with tridimensional (3D) technique and 14 with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) technique - were performed, first without heterogeneity correction and, by keeping the Monitor Units (MU), the calculations were then performed with the different algorithms/methods of heterogeneity corrections and the results were compared with the initial planning. It was analyzed the target volume and organs at risk doses. RESULTS: The measurements performed in phantoms revealed that algorithms based on the convolution principle (Eclipse® Pencil Beam Convolution with correction methods Batho, Batho Modified and Equivalent TAR; XiO® Clarkson and Convolution e iPlan® Pencil Beam) presented significant dose differences in the cork region, overestimating the measurement, with a overdose higher than 8%. More advanced algorithms, as Eclipse® AAA and Acuros XB, XiO® Superposition and iPlan® XVMC, presented deviations below to 3% in the heterogeneity region. The profile analysis showed, similarly, that the second class of algorithms presents better performance in medium with low electronic density, like cork. The penumbra width presented deviations below to 1 mm for the more sophisticated algorithms against differences up to 4.5 mm between the convolution based algorithms. The dose distribution analysis in lung treatment planning showed that all the calculations performed with heterogeneity corrections presented doses higher than the calculation without heterogeneity corrections. The target volume dose-volume histogram (DVH) had a higher impact compared to the organs at risk. The calculation performed with convolution based algorithms presented dose distributions comparable, although different from the calculation performed without heterogeneity correction. Eclipse® AAA, Acuros XB, XiO® Superposition and iPlan® XVMC presented dose distribution similar, however Eclipse® Acuros XB and iPlan® XVMC are still more similar. The SBRT treatment planning presented higher deviations from the calculation with no heterogeneity correction, compared with the 3D treatment planning. CONCLUSIONS: The different calculation algorithms available have different accuracies in low density mediums. These differences have impact in the dose distributions in lung treatment planning, being the impact higher for the SBRT technique. Between the evaluated algorithms there is, at least one of each manufacturer, that presented acceptable performance in lung equivalent material and it should be the choice in lung treatment planning calculation

INTRODUÇÃO: Na Radioterapia, a acurácia da distribuição de dose em cálculos com correção de heterogeneidade está diretamente relacionada à escolha do algoritmo de cálculo. Existe uma variedade de algoritmos de cálculo disponíveis no mercado, variando em tempo de processamento e acurácia. Este estudo teve como objetivos quantificar a acurácia de dez diferentes algoritmos de cálculo em objetos simuladores de pulmão e analisar o impacto da escolha do algoritmo na distribuição de dose em radioterapia aplicada a tumores de pulmão. METODOLOGIA: Foram utilizados placas simuladoras de água (água sólida RW3) e pulmão (cortiça) para determinar a Porcentagem de Dose em Profundidade (PDP) e perfil transversal dentro da heterogeneidade (cortiça). As medidas foram realizadas em um Clinac Varian 6EX, com feixes de fótons de 6 MV e dois tamanhos de campo (5 x 5 cm2 e 10 x 10 cm2), irradiando-se filmes radiocrômicos Gafchromic EBT3 e câmara de ionização Scanditronix Wellhofer CC13. Planejamentos de 25 pacientes - 11 com técnica tridimendional (3D) e 14 com técnica de Radioterapia Estereotática Corpórea (SBRT) - foram realizados, inicialmente sem correção de heterogeneidade e, mantendo-se as UM, os cálculos com os diferentes algoritmos/métodos de correção foram comparados com o planejamento inicial. Foram avaliados as doses no volume alvo e nos órgãos em risco. RESULTADOS: As medidas realizadas em objetos simuladores revelaram que os algoritmos baseados no princípio da convolução (Eclipse® Pencil Beam Convolution com métodos de correção Batho, Batho Modificado e TAR equivalente; XiO® Clarkson e Convolution e iPlan® Pencil Beam) apresentaram diferenças de dose significativas na região da cortiça, sempre superestimando a medida, com uma sobredose superior a 8%. Algoritmos mais avançados, como o Eclipse® AAA e Acuros XB, XiO® Superposition e iPlan® XVMC, apresentaram desvios inferiores a 3% na região da heterogeneidade. A análise dos perfis mostra, igualmente, que a segunda classe de algoritmos apresenta melhor comportamento em meios de baixa densidade como a cortiça. A largura da penumbra apresentou desvios inferiores a 1 mm para os algoritmos mais avançados contra diferenças de até 4,5 mm entre os algoritmos baseados em convolução. A análise da distribuição de dose em planejamentos de tumores pulmonares mostrou que todos os cálculos com correção de heterogeneidade presentam doses superiores ao cálculo sem correção de heterogeneidade. O histograma dose-volume (DVH) do volume alvo sofreu um impacto maior do que dos órgãos em risco. Os cálculos realizados com algoritmos baseados em convolução apresentaram distribuições de dose semelhantes entre si, porém diferentes das do cálculo sem correção de heterogeneidade. Eclipse® AAA, Acuros XB, XiO® Superposition e iPlan® XVMC apresentaram distribuições de dose também semelhantes, porém Eclipse® Acuros XB e iPlan® XVMC são ainda mais similares. Os planejamentos de SBRT apresentaram resultados mais discrepantes do cálculo sem correção de heterogeneidade do que os planejamentos 3D. CONCLUSÕES: Os diferentes algoritmos de cálculo disponíveis possuem acurácias diferentes em meios de baixa densidade eletrônica. Essas diferenças possuem impacto nas distribuições de dose em planejamentos de tratamento de tumores pulmonares, sendo o impacto ainda maior para a técnica de SBRT. Entre os algoritmos avaliados, há pelo menos um de cada fabricante que apresentou bom desempenho em objetos simuladores de pulmão e que devem ser priorizados para o cálculo em planejamentos de tratamentos de câncer de pulmão / INTRODUCTION: In Radiotherapy, the dose distribution accuracy in heterogeneity correction calculations is directly related to the choice of calculation algorithm. There are many calculation algorithms commercially available. They vary in accuracy and processing time. This study aimed to quantify the accuracy of ten different calculation algorithms in lung equivalent material and to analyze the impact of the algorithm choice in the dose distribution in Radiotherapy applied to lung tumors. METHODS: It was used plates of water (solid water RW3) and lung (cork) equivalent materials to determine the Percentage of Depth Dose (PDD) and transversal profile inside the heterogeneity (cork). The measurements were performed in a Clinac Varian 6EX, with 6 MV photon beams and two field sizes (5 x 5 cm2 and 10 x 10 cm2), through irradiation of radiochromic films Gafchromic EBT3 and ionization chamber Scanditronix Wellhofer CC13. Treatment planning of 25 patients - 11 with tridimensional (3D) technique and 14 with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) technique - were performed, first without heterogeneity correction and, by keeping the Monitor Units (MU), the calculations were then performed with the different algorithms/methods of heterogeneity corrections and the results were compared with the initial planning. It was analyzed the target volume and organs at risk doses. RESULTS: The measurements performed in phantoms revealed that algorithms based on the convolution principle (Eclipse® Pencil Beam Convolution with correction methods Batho, Batho Modified and Equivalent TAR; XiO® Clarkson and Convolution e iPlan® Pencil Beam) presented significant dose differences in the cork region, overestimating the measurement, with a overdose higher than 8%. More advanced algorithms, as Eclipse® AAA and Acuros XB, XiO® Superposition and iPlan® XVMC, presented deviations below to 3% in the heterogeneity region. The profile analysis showed, similarly, that the second class of algorithms presents better performance in medium with low electronic density, like cork. The penumbra width presented deviations below to 1 mm for the more sophisticated algorithms against differences up to 4.5 mm between the convolution based algorithms. The dose distribution analysis in lung treatment planning showed that all the calculations performed with heterogeneity corrections presented doses higher than the calculation without heterogeneity corrections. The target volume dose-volume histogram (DVH) had a higher impact compared to the organs at risk. The calculation performed with convolution based algorithms presented dose distributions comparable, although different from the calculation performed without heterogeneity correction. Eclipse® AAA, Acuros XB, XiO® Superposition and iPlan® XVMC presented dose distribution similar, however Eclipse® Acuros XB and iPlan® XVMC are still more similar. The SBRT treatment planning presented higher deviations from the calculation with no heterogeneity correction, compared with the 3D treatment planning. CONCLUSIONS: The different calculation algorithms available have different accuracies in low density mediums. These differences have impact in the dose distributions in lung treatment planning, being the impact higher for the SBRT technique. Between the evaluated algorithms there is, at least one of each manufacturer, that presented acceptable performance in lung equivalent material and it should be the choice in lung treatment planning calculation