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Radiation Oncology
Published in: Radiation Oncology 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research

On the dosimetric impact of inhomogeneity management in the Acuros XB algorithm for breast treatment

Authors: Antonella Fogliata, Giorgia Nicolini, Alessandro Clivio, Eugenio Vanetti, Luca Cozzi

Published in: Radiation Oncology | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

A new algorithm for photon dose calculation, Acuros XB, has been recently introduced in the Eclipse, Varian treatment planning system, allowing, similarly to the classic Monte Carlo methods, for accurate modelling of dose deposition in media. Aim of the present study was the assessment of its behaviour in clinical cases.

Methods

Datasets from ten breast patients scanned under different breathing conditions (free breathing and deep inspiration) were used to calculate dose plans using the simple two tangential field setting, with Acuros XB (in its versions 10 and 11) and the Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA) for a 6MV beam. Acuros XB calculations were performed as dose-to-medium distributions. This feature was investigated to appraise the capability of the algorithm to distinguish between different elemental compositions in the human body: lobular vs. adipose tissue in the breast, lower (deep inspiration condition) vs. higher (free breathing condition) densities in the lung.

Results

The analysis of the two breast structures presenting densities compatible with muscle and with adipose tissue showed an average difference in dose calculation between Acuros XB and AAA of 1.6%, with AAA predicting higher dose than Acuros XB, for the muscle tissue (the lobular breast); while the difference for adipose tissue was negligible. From histograms of the dose difference plans between AAA and Acuros XB (version 10), the dose of the lung portion inside the tangential fields presented an average difference of 0.5% in the free breathing conditions, increasing to 1.5% for the deep inspiration cases, with AAA predicting higher doses than Acuros XB. In lung tissue significant differences are found also between Acuros XB version 10 and 11 for lower density lung.

Conclusions

Acuros XB, differently from AAA, is capable to distinguish between the different elemental compositions of the body, and suggests the possibility to further improve the accuracy of the dose plans computed for actual treatment of patients.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
On the dosimetric impact of inhomogeneity management in the Acuros XB algorithm for breast treatment
Authors
Antonella Fogliata
Giorgia Nicolini
Alessandro Clivio
Eugenio Vanetti
Luca Cozzi
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Radiation Oncology / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1748-717X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-717X-6-103

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