Thesis (M.S.)--University of Toledo, 2009. / "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences." Title from title page of PDF document. Bibliography: p. 34-35.

Thesis (M.S.) --University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Dissertation (Ph.D.).--University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Medical Physics Unit. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/05/29). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2006. / Vita. Bibliography: pp. 73-78

Advanced-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) presents very difficult scenarios for radiation therapy (RT) planning. The infiltration of tumor to the skull base and beyond means that the tumor is very close to critical normal organs (organs at risk, OARs). Despite the advent of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment technique---the state-of-art RT technique, conflicting requirements between organ protection and target dose conformity is still problematic. The objectives of the present research are (1) to investigate the dosimetry properties of IMRT treatment in advanced-stage NPC in respect of its dosimetric limitations and planning problems, (2) to develop new methods and tools to resolve such problems, in particular to improve the quality of treatment plans and efficiency of the dose planning and optimization process. A series of four inter-linked studies were conducted to address these issues. / In conclusion, the solutions to several major problems in IMRT planning for advanced-stage NPC were investigated and established. It has been demonstrated in this research that, by applying these methods and tools, significant improvement in the dosimetry and efficiency of IMRT treatment planning can be accomplished as compared with conventional IMRT planning techniques. It is expected that such would translate into an improvement in treatment throughput, better tumor control and reduction in normal tissues complications. The methods developed have potential to be applied to all stages of NPC and to other tumor sites. / The first study was to improve the efficacy in target coverage and organs sparing using an "organ-splitting" approach. The OARs which overlapped with targets were split into target-overlapping and non-overlapping segments and each segment was assigned with different constraints parameters to increase the degree of flexibility during optimization. As a result, a steep gradient in the dose distribution at the regions of interface between the targets and normal critical organs could be achieved and treatment quality was improved. In the second study, a thorough dosimetric comparison between conventional 2-dimensional (2D) RT and IMRT plans was conducted to determine, with reference to outcome of 2D treatments, the extended tolerance dose limits for the critical organs, especially that of the brainstem and spinal cord, and their planning organ at risk volume. Such data could then serve as reference in IMRT planning when the dose of critical organs need be exceeded in order to allow adequate dose to a very close by target. In the third study, the feasibility of using interpolated contours for segmentation of targets and OARs in IMRT planning was investigated. The result indicated that the use of interpolated contours in IMRT planning could significantly reduce the contouring time by about 50% without degrading the target coverage and OARS sparing. In the final study, an array of dose constraint templates that could accommodate different degrees of overlap between the targets and OARs, together with a template selection program, were developed to improve the efficiency of IMRT planning. By applying the methods and tools developed, IMRT treatment planning of advanced NPC could become more efficient and less dependent on planner's experience. / Chau, Ming Chun. / Adviser: Anthony Chan Tak Cheung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 0948. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-128). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Thesis--University of Oklahoma. / Bibliography: leaves 115-119.

As técnicas de radioterapia vem sendo constantemente modificadas com a implementação de novas tecnologias visando aumentar a eficiência e diminuir a toxicidade dos tratamentos com radiação ionizante. Esse trabalho visa comparar as técnicas de radioterapia de intensidade modulada (IMRT) e a radioterapia em arco modulada volumetricamente (VMAT) em termos dosimétricos para o alvo e órgãos em risco além de avaliar a diferença do tempo de tratamento utilizando cada técnica. Para assegurar que os planejamentos seguiriam um padrão aceitável para ambas as técnicas, realizou-se primeiramente os planejamentos sugeridos pelo TG 119 da Associação Americana de Física Médica e compatibilidade dos resultados obtidos comparados com os dados da literatura. Tal comparação permitiu prosseguir para uma próxima etapa que consistiu da utilização de imagens de pacientes reais que foram submetidos a tratamentos de próstata e cabeça e pescoço, para a realização dos planejamentos utilizando as técnicas de IMRT e VMAT. A qualidade dosimétrica dos planejamentos utilizando ambas as técnicas foi avaliada em termos de conformidade e homogeneidade da dose no alvo e para os casos de pacientes com câncer de próstata, foram investigados os limites de dose em reto, bexiga e cabeça de fêmur, sendo avaliada a associação entre o volume de intersecção de reto e bexiga com o alvo. Para os   casos de pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço, em termos dos limites de dose em medula, tronco cerebral e parótidas. Os planejamentos nos quais fez se uso da técnica de VMAT apresentaram valores semelhantes aos dos planos de IMRT. A análise dos tempos de tratamento para cada técnica avaliada mostrou que a VMAT reduz significativamente o tempo, até 67% para os casos de pacientes com câncer de próstata e até 36% para os casos de pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço / The goal of this study was to compare the dosimetric aspects of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with those of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and to evaluate the delivery time and monitor unit differences between the two techniques, for applications in prostate and head and neck cancer treatment. First of all, to assure an acceptable pattern of treatment planning using both techniques, the TG119 of American Association of Medical Physics instructions were followed and the results of plans were compared to TG119 published data. The next step consisted of using real patients\' images, whose underwent prostate radiotherapy or head and neck radiotherapy, to planning IMRT and VMAT. The dosimetric quality of plans using both techniques was evaluated in terms of target dose conformity and target dose homogeneity The dose constraints for rectum, bladder and femoral head were analyzed and the association between the rectum intersection volume and bladder intersection volume to the target volume were evaluated for the prostate cases. The dose constraints for spinal cord, brainstem and parotids were investigated for the head and neck cases. Best or similar values were obtained for the VMAT plans in relation to IMRT plans. The analysis of treatment time indicated a significant reduction using VMAT, until 67% to the prostate cases and 36% to the head and neck cases

As técnicas de radioterapia vem sendo constantemente modificadas com a implementação de novas tecnologias visando aumentar a eficiência e diminuir a toxicidade dos tratamentos com radiação ionizante. Esse trabalho visa comparar as técnicas de radioterapia de intensidade modulada (IMRT) e a radioterapia em arco modulada volumetricamente (VMAT) em termos dosimétricos para o alvo e órgãos em risco além de avaliar a diferença do tempo de tratamento utilizando cada técnica. Para assegurar que os planejamentos seguiriam um padrão aceitável para ambas as técnicas, realizou-se primeiramente os planejamentos sugeridos pelo TG 119 da Associação Americana de Física Médica e compatibilidade dos resultados obtidos comparados com os dados da literatura. Tal comparação permitiu prosseguir para uma próxima etapa que consistiu da utilização de imagens de pacientes reais que foram submetidos a tratamentos de próstata e cabeça e pescoço, para a realização dos planejamentos utilizando as técnicas de IMRT e VMAT. A qualidade dosimétrica dos planejamentos utilizando ambas as técnicas foi avaliada em termos de conformidade e homogeneidade da dose no alvo e para os casos de pacientes com câncer de próstata, foram investigados os limites de dose em reto, bexiga e cabeça de fêmur, sendo avaliada a associação entre o volume de intersecção de reto e bexiga com o alvo. Para os   casos de pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço, em termos dos limites de dose em medula, tronco cerebral e parótidas. Os planejamentos nos quais fez se uso da técnica de VMAT apresentaram valores semelhantes aos dos planos de IMRT. A análise dos tempos de tratamento para cada técnica avaliada mostrou que a VMAT reduz significativamente o tempo, até 67% para os casos de pacientes com câncer de próstata e até 36% para os casos de pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço / The goal of this study was to compare the dosimetric aspects of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with those of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and to evaluate the delivery time and monitor unit differences between the two techniques, for applications in prostate and head and neck cancer treatment. First of all, to assure an acceptable pattern of treatment planning using both techniques, the TG119 of American Association of Medical Physics instructions were followed and the results of plans were compared to TG119 published data. The next step consisted of using real patients\' images, whose underwent prostate radiotherapy or head and neck radiotherapy, to planning IMRT and VMAT. The dosimetric quality of plans using both techniques was evaluated in terms of target dose conformity and target dose homogeneity The dose constraints for rectum, bladder and femoral head were analyzed and the association between the rectum intersection volume and bladder intersection volume to the target volume were evaluated for the prostate cases. The dose constraints for spinal cord, brainstem and parotids were investigated for the head and neck cases. Best or similar values were obtained for the VMAT plans in relation to IMRT plans. The analysis of treatment time indicated a significant reduction using VMAT, until 67% to the prostate cases and 36% to the head and neck cases