Impact of a fiducial marker based ART strategy on margins in postoperative IMRT of gynecological tumors

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the potential of an offline Adaptive Radiotherapy (ART) strategy, based on the interfractional vagina motion (IVM) measured using fiducial markers (FM) during an initial number of fractions, on the CTV to PTV margins in post-operative gynecological patients. Materials and methodsIn 18 patients, treated post-operatively for gynecological tumors, the systematic residual IVM was quantified after simulating an offline ART procedure, utilizing the average IVM measured with FM for a varying initial numbers of fractions to find the optimal moment to adapt the treatment plan and a threshold for selecting patients for replanning. Clinical margins for a zero, 2 and 5 mm threshold based strategy were calculated to assess the possible margin reduction. ResultsApplying an ART strategy based on the average IVM of the initial 5 fractions reduces the systematic IVM significantly (P < 0.025), allowing a reduction of the clinical margin of 3 mm (20%) in the CC direction and 2 mm (13%) in the AP direction. A 2 mm threshold for selecting patients for replanning shows no difference in the reduction of the clinical margin, but reduces the workload with 12%. ConclusionAn ART strategy based on adapting on the average IVM during the initial 5 fractions of treatment provides an opportunity to reduce the CTV to PTV margins in postoperative gynecological tumors. To keep the workload in balance with the best achievable margin reduction, a threshold for selecting patients for plan adaptation is recommended.