Intensity-modulated radiation therapy using only jaws and a mask

Abstract

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) generally requires complex equipment for delivery. Just one study has investigated the use of ‘jaws-only’ IMRT with not discouraging conclusions. However, the monitor-unit efficiency is still considered to be too low compared with the use of a multileaf collimator (MLC). In this paper a new IMRT delivery technique is proposed which does not require the MLC and is only moderately more complex than the use of jaws alone. In this method a secondary collimator (mask) is employed together with the jaws. This mask may translate parallel to the jaw axes. Two types of mask have been investigated. One is a regular binary-attenuation pattern and the other is a random binary-attenuation pattern. Studies show that the monitor-unit efficiency of this ‘jaws-plus-mask’ technique, with a random binary mask, is more than double that of the jaws-only technique for typical two-dimensional intensity-modulated beams of size 10 × 10 bixels2 and with a peak value of 10 MU (or quantized into 10 fluence increments). For two-dimensional intensity-modulated beams of size 15 × 15 bixels2 with a peak value of 10 MU (or quantized into 10 fluence increments), the monitor-unit efficiency of the ‘jaws-plus-mask’ technique with a random binary mask is almost triple that of the jaws-only technique. Some further extensions to this concept are presented showing that some more practical mask arrangements are possible but with somewhat compromised monitor-unit efficiency. Some comments are provided on practicalities and on delivery times.