Top

Radiation Oncology

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research

Evaluation of heterogeneity dose distributions for Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT): comparison of commercially available Monte Carlo dose calculation with other algorithms

Authors: Wataru Takahashi, Hideomi Yamashita, Naoya Saotome, Yoshio Iwai, Akira Sakumi, Akihiro Haga, Keiichi Nakagawa

Published in: Radiation Oncology | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to compare dose distributions from three different algorithms with the x-ray Voxel Monte Carlo (XVMC) calculations, in actual computed tomography (CT) scans for use in stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) of small lung cancers.

Methods

Slow CT scan of 20 patients was performed and the internal target volume (ITV) was delineated on Pinnacle³. All plans were first calculated with a scatter homogeneous mode (SHM) which is compatible with Clarkson algorithm using Pinnacle³ treatment planning system (TPS). The planned dose was 48 Gy in 4 fractions. In a second step, the CT images, structures and beam data were exported to other treatment planning systems (TPSs). Collapsed cone convolution (CCC) from Pinnacle³, superposition (SP) from XiO, and XVMC from Monaco were used for recalculating. The dose distributions and the Dose Volume Histograms (DVHs) were compared with each other.

Results

The phantom test revealed that all algorithms could reproduce the measured data within 1% except for the SHM with inhomogeneous phantom. For the patient study, the SHM greatly overestimated the isocenter (IC) doses and the minimal dose received by 95% of the PTV (PTV95) compared to XVMC. The differences in mean doses were 2.96 Gy (6.17%) for IC and 5.02 Gy (11.18%) for PTV95. The DVH's and dose distributions with CCC and SP were in agreement with those obtained by XVMC. The average differences in IC doses between CCC and XVMC, and SP and XVMC were -1.14% (p = 0.17), and -2.67% (p = 0.0036), respectively.

Conclusions

Our work clearly confirms that the actual practice of relying solely on a Clarkson algorithm may be inappropriate for SRT planning. Meanwhile, CCC and SP were close to XVMC simulations and actual dose distributions obtained in lung SRT.

Available only for authorised users

Jemal A, Bray F, Center MM, Ferlay J, Ward E, Forman D: Global cancer statistics. CA Cancer J Clin 2011,61(2):69-90. Epub 2011 Feb 4 10.3322/caac.20107CrossRefPubMed

Matsuo Y, Shibuya K, Nagata Y, Takayama K, Norihisa Y, Mizowaki T, Narabayashi M, Sakanaka K, Hiraoka M: Prognostic Factors in Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2010. Epub 2010 May 14

Baumann P, Nyman J, Hoyer M, Wennberg B, Gagliardi G, Lax I, Drugge N, Ekberg L, Friesland S, Johansson KA, Lund JA, Morhed E, Nilsson K, Levin N, Paludan M, Sederholm C, Traberg A, Wittgren L, Lewensohn R: Outcome in a prospective phase II trial of medically inoperable stage I non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy. J Clin Oncol 2009,27(20):3290-6. Epub 2009 May 4 10.1200/JCO.2008.21.5681CrossRefPubMed

Herman Tde L, Gabrish H, Herman TS, Vlachaki MT, Ahmad S: Impact of tissue heterogeneity corrections in stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment plans for lung cancer. J Med Phys 2010,35(3):170-3. 10.4103/0971-6203.62133CrossRefPubMed

Chang D, Liu C, Dempsey JF, Palta JR, Kopea J, Louis D, Morris C, Chopra R, Olivier KR: Predicting changes in dose distribution to tumor and normal tissue when correcting for heterogeneity in radiotherapy for lung cancer. Am J Clin Oncol 2007,30(1):57-62. 10.1097/01.coc.0000251222.36417.3bCrossRefPubMed

Hiraoka M, Ishikura S: A Japan clinical oncology group trial for stereotactic body radiation therapy of non-small cell lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol 2007,2(7 Suppl 3):S115-7.CrossRefPubMed

Knoos T, Ahnesjo A, Nilsson P, Weber L: Limitations of a pencil beam approach to photon dose calculations in lung tissue. Phys Med Biol 1995, 40: 1411-1420. 10.1088/0031-9155/40/9/002CrossRefPubMed

Aarup LR, Nahum AE, Zacharatou C, Juhler-Nøttrup T, Knöös T, Nyström H, Specht L, Wieslander E, Korreman SS: The effect of different lung densities on the accuracy of various radiotherapy dose calculationmethods: implications for tumour coverage. Radiother Oncol 2009,91(3):405-14. Epub 2009, 16 10.1016/j.radonc.2009.01.008CrossRefPubMed

Dobler B, Walter C, Knopf A, Fabri D, Loeschel R, Polednik M, Schneider F, Wenz F, Lohr F: Optimization of extracranial stereotactic radiation therapy of small lung lesions using accurate dose calculation algorithms. Radiat Oncol 2006, 1: 45. 10.1186/1748-717X-1-45PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed

10.

Fotina I, Winkler P, Künzler T, Reiterer J, Simmat I, Georg D: Advanced kernel methods vs. Monte Carlo-based dose calculation for high energy photon beams. Radiother Oncol 2009,93(3):645-53. Epub 2009 Nov 18 10.1016/j.radonc.2009.10.013CrossRefPubMed

11.

Koelbl O, Krieger T, Haedinger U, Sauer O, Flentje M: Influence of Calculation Algorithm on Dose Distribution in Irradiation of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Collapsed Cone Versus Pencil Beam. Strahlenther Onkol 2004, 180: 783-788. 10.1007/s00066-004-1268-4CrossRefPubMed

12.

Fragoso M, Wen N, Kumar S, Liu D, Ryu S, Movsas B, Munther A, Chetty IJ: Dosimetric verification and clinical evaluation of a new commercially available Monte Carlo-based dose algorithm for application in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) treatment planning. Phys Med Biol 2010,55(16):4445-64. Epub 2010 10.1088/0031-9155/55/16/S02CrossRefPubMed

13.

Wulf J, Hädinger U, Oppitz U, Olshausen B, Flentje M: Stereotactic radiotherapy of extracranial targets: CT-simulation and accuracy of treatment in the stereotactic body frame. Radiother Oncol 2000,57(2):225-36. 10.1016/S0167-8140(00)00226-7CrossRefPubMed

14.

Takeda A, Kunieda E, Shigematsu N, Hossain DM, Kawase T, Ohashi T, Fukada J, Kawaguchi O, Uematsu M, Takeda T, Takemasa K, Takahashi T, Kubo A: Small lung tumors: long-scan-time CT for planning of hypofractionated stereotactic radiation therapy--initial findings. Radiology 2005,237(1):295-300. Epub 2005 Aug 18 10.1148/radiol.2371032102CrossRefPubMed

15.

Ahnesjö A: Collapsed cone convolution of radiant energy for photon dose calculation in heterogeneous media. Med Phys 1989, 16: 577-92. 10.1118/1.596360CrossRefPubMed

16.

Yamashita H, Nakagawa K, Nakamura N, Koyanagi H, Tago M, Igaki H, Shiraishi K, Sasano N, Ohtomo K: Exceptionally high incidence of symptomatic grade2–5radiation pneumonitis after stereotactic radiation therapy for lung tumors. Radiat Oncol 2007, 2: 21. 10.1186/1748-717X-2-21PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed

17.

Mackie TR, Bielajew AF, Rogers DW, Battista JJ: Generation of photon energy deposition kernels using the EGS Monte Carlo code. Phys Med Biol 1988,33(1):1-20. 10.1088/0031-9155/33/1/001CrossRefPubMed

18.

Miften MM, Beavis AW, Marks LB: Influence of dose calculation model on treatment plan evaluation in conformal radiotherapy: a three-case study. Med Dosim 2002,27(1):51-7. 10.1016/S0958-3947(02)00088-2CrossRefPubMed

19.

Kawrakow I, Fippel M, Friedrich K: 3D electron dose calculation using a Voxel based Monte Carlo algorithm (VMC). Med Phys 1996,23(4):445-57. 10.1118/1.597673CrossRefPubMed

20.

Fippel M, Laub W, Huber B, Nüsslin F: Experimental investigation of a fast Monte Carlo photon beam dose calculation algorithm. Phys Med Biol 1999,44(12):3039-54. 10.1088/0031-9155/44/12/313CrossRefPubMed

21.

Fotina I, Kragl G, Kroupa B, Trausmuth R, Georg D: Clinical comparison of dose calculation using the enhanced collapsed cone algorithm vs. a new Monte Carlo algorithm. Strahlenther Onkol 2011,187(7):433-41. Epub 2011 Jun 27 10.1007/s00066-011-2215-9CrossRefPubMed

22.

Fippel M, Nüsslin F: Foundations of the Monte Carlo method for dose calculation in radiotherapy. Z Med Phys 2001,11(2):73-82.CrossRefPubMed

23.

Fogliata A, Vanetti E, Albers D, Brink C, Clivio A, Knöös T, Nicolini G, Cozzi L: On the dosimetric behaviour of photon dose calculation algorithms in the presence of simple geometric heterogeneities: comparison with Monte Carlo calculations. Phys Med Biol 2007,52(5):1363-85. Epub 2007 Feb 8 10.1088/0031-9155/52/5/011CrossRefPubMed

24.

Panettieri V, Wennberg B, Gagliardi G, Duch MA, Ginjaume M, Lax I: SBRT of lung tumours: Monte Carlo simulation with PENELOPE of dose distributions including respiratory motion and comparison with different treatment planning systems. Phys Med Biol 2007,52(14):4265-81. 10.1088/0031-9155/52/14/016CrossRefPubMed

25.

Chen H, Lohr F, Fritz P, Wenz F, Dobler B, Lorenz F, Mühlnickel W: Stereotactic, single-dose irradiation of lung tumors: a comparison of absolute dose and dose distribution between pencil beam and Monte Carlo algorithms based on actual patient CT scans. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2010,78(3):955-63. Epub 2010 Feb 18 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2009.08.012CrossRefPubMed

Title: Evaluation of heterogeneity dose distributions for Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT): comparison of commercially available Monte Carlo dose calculation with other algorithms
Authors: Wataru Takahashi
Hideomi Yamashita
Naoya Saotome
Yoshio Iwai
Akira Sakumi
Akihiro Haga
Keiichi Nakagawa
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Radiation Oncology / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1748-717X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-717X-7-20

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Evaluation of heterogeneity dose distributions for Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT): comparison of commercially available Monte Carlo dose calculation with other algorithms

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2012

Image-Guided Robotic Stereotactic Radiation Therapy with Fiducial-Free Tumor Tracking for Lung Cancer

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for abdominal oligometastases: a biological and clinical review

Accuracy and inter-observer variability of 3D versus 4D cone-beam CT based image-guidance in SBRT for lung tumors

Designed-seamless irradiation technique for extended whole mediastinal proton-beam irradiation for esophageal cancer

IGRT versus non-IGRT for postoperative head-and-neck IMRT patients: dosimetric consequences arising from a PTV margin reduction

Use of combined maximum and minimum intensity projections to determine internal target volume in 4-dimensional CT scans for hepatic malignancies