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01-03-2020 | Radiotherapy | Original Article

Monitoring skin dose changes during image-guided helical tomotherapy for head and neck cancer patients

Authors: Martina Mori, Italo Dell’Oca, Marco Branchini, Silvia Foti, Sara Broggi, Lucia Perna, Giovanni Mauro Cattaneo, Riccardo Calandrino, Nadia Gisella Di Muzio, Claudio Fiorino

Published in: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie | Issue 3/2020

Abstract

Purpose

An increase of skin dose during head and neck cancer (HNC) radiotherapy is potentially dangerous. Aim of this study was to quantify skin dose variation and to assess the need of planning adaptation (ART) to counteract it.

Methods

Planning CTs of 32 patients treated with helical tomotherapy (HT) according to a Simultaneous Integrated Boost (SIB) technique delivering 54/66 Gy in 30 fractions were deformably co-registered to MVCTs taken at fractions 15 and 30; in addition, the first fraction was also considered. The delivered dose-of-the-day was calculated on the corresponding deformed images. Superficial body layers (SL) were considered as a surrogate for skin, considering a layer thickness of 2 mm. Variations of SL DVH (∆SL) during therapy were quantified, focusing on ∆SL95% (i.e., 62.7 Gy).

Results

Small changes (within ± 1 cc for ∆SL95%) were seen in 15/32 patients. Only 2 patients experienced ∆SL95% > 1 cc in at least one of the two monitored fractions. Negative ∆SL95% > 1 cc (up to 17 cc) were much more common (15/32 patients). The trend of skin dose changes was mostly detected at the first fraction. Negative changes were correlated with the presence of any overlap between PTV and SL at planning and were explained in terms of how the planning system optimizes the PTV dose coverage near the skin. Acute toxicity was associated with planning DVH and this association was not improved if considering DVHs referring to fractions 15/30.

Conclusion

About half of the patients treated with SIB with HT for HNC experienced a skin-sparing effect during therapy; only 6% experienced an increase. Our findings do not support skin-sparing ART, while suggesting the introduction of improved skin-sparing planning techniques.

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Title: Monitoring skin dose changes during image-guided helical tomotherapy for head and neck cancer patients
Authors: Martina Mori
Italo Dell’Oca
Marco Branchini
Silvia Foti
Sara Broggi
Lucia Perna
Giovanni Mauro Cattaneo
Riccardo Calandrino
Nadia Gisella Di Muzio
Claudio Fiorino
Publication date: 01-03-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Radiotherapy
Head and Neck Cancer
Published in: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 0179-7158
Electronic ISSN: 1439-099X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-019-01520-y

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Monitoring skin dose changes during image-guided helical tomotherapy for head and neck cancer patients

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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