Dose distribution of the brain tissue associated with cognitive functions in high-grade glioma patients

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this prospective dosimetric study was to assess the dose distribution regarding the brain areas implied in cognitive functions using two approaches: volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and helical tomotherapy (HT). Patients and methodsThirty-seven patients were treated using a dual-arc VMAT approach for supratentorial glioblastoma between 2016 and 2018. The total dose of 60Gy in 30 daily fractions was administered to the planning target volume (PTV). The brain structures that play an important role in cognitive physiology, such as the hippocampi, corpus callosum, cerebellum, subventricular zones (SVZ), were delineated. For each patient, a new treatment plan in HT was determined by a second medical physicist in a blindly fashion according to the same dose constraints and priorities. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon-signed rank test. ResultsConformity indexes remained similar with both techniques. The mean values were 0.96 (0.19–1.00) for VMAT and 0.98 (range, 0.84–1.00) for HT, respectively (P=0.73). Significant D50% reductions were observed with VMAT compared to HT: 14.6Gy (3.8–28.0) versus 17.4Gy (12.1–25.0) for the normal brain (P=0.014); 32.5Gy (10.3–60.0) versus 35.6Gy (17.1–58.0) for the corpus callosum (P=0.038); 8.1Gy (0.4–34.0) versus 12.8Gy (0.8–27.0) for the cerebellum (P<0.001), respectively. ConclusionThe VMAT approach seemed to improve the sparing of the key brain areas implied in cognitive functions without jeopardizing PTV coverage.