Optimization of IMRT treatment plan with Kinetic Data Structures

Abstract

The use of radiation to treat malignant cancer involves exposing cancerous cells to an elevated dose of radiation in order to destroy the diseased tissue. One of the foremost challenges in planning such treatments is ensuring that healthy tissue, which can also be damaged by the radiation, is avoided. As the cancerous cells are often close in proximity to healthy tissues, it is almost impossible to avoid some exposure. Some organs or tissues may also be less capable of absorbing radiation than others or more essential in function, and these should be given higher priority for avoidance when formulating a successful treatment plan. We have developed a data structure and associated algorithm to optimize a form of radiotherapy called Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy or IMRT by using a Kinetic Data Structure (KDS) to keep track of the total overlapping area between the target tumor and any surrounding tissues.