A method to quantify and assess the dosimetric and clinical impact resulting from the heterogeneity correction in radiotherapy for lung cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to propose a method to quantify and assess the differences in dose computations using heterogeneity correction algorithms for the planning target volumes and organs at risk. Methods: Six patients with lung cancer treated with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy were included and analysed. Dose calculations were performed using the pencil beam convolution (PBC) algorithm without heterogeneity correction and the Modified Batho method (PBC-MB) with heterogeneity correction. For each patient, 3 treatment plans were generated using exactly the same beam configuration. In plan 1, the dose was calculated using the PBC algorithm. In plan 2, the dose was calculated using the PBC-MB. In plan 3, the dose was calculated using the PBC-MB method but with the same number of monitor units obtained from plan 1. To evaluate the treatment plans computed by the PBC and PBC-MB, the monitor units, dose at the isocenter, spatial isodose distribution, dose volume histograms, conformity index, homogeneity index, planning target volumes conformity index, and geometrical index were compared. A statistical analysis was carried out using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The PBC-MB method in plan 2 produced a lower number of monitor units than in plan 1 using PBC algorithm (p < 0.001). Dosimetric parameters derived from the dose volume histograms were higher for the planning target volumes and organs at risks using PBC-MB method for plans 2 and 3 when compared to plan 1. There was no significant difference for all the quality indices between plan 1 and plan 2, (p > 0.05), but a significant difference for the geometric index between plans 2 and 3 (p = 0.002) was observed. Conclusion: The risks related to the modification from the homogeneity plan to the heterogeneity plan were the reduction of delivered dose in monitor units for the planning target volumes and the increment of the dose to the organs at risk. We suggest the adaption in the dose prescriptions when switching the dose calculation algorithm from the PBC to PBC-MB. ------------------------------------------------------ Cite this article as: Chaikh A, Giraud J, Balosso J. A method to quantify and assess the dosimetric and clinical impact resulting from the heterogeneity correction in radiotherapy for lung cancer. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2014; 2 (1):020110. DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14319/ijcto.0201.10