Abstract
Purpose:Over the last years, volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has been widely introduced into clinical routine using a coplanar delivery technique. However, VMAT might be improved by including dynamic couch and collimator rotations, leading to dynamic trajectory radiotherapy (DTRT). In this work the feasibility and the potential benefit of DTRT was investigated.Methods:A general framework for the optimization was developed using the Eclipse Scripting Research Application Programming Interface (ESRAPI). Based on contoured target and organs at risk (OARs), the structures are extracted using the ESRAPI. Sampling potential beam directions, regularly distributed on a sphere using a Fibanocci‐lattice, the fractional volume‐overlap of each OAR and the target is determined and used to establish dynamic gantry‐couch movements. Then, for each gantry‐couch track the most suitable collimator angle is determined for each control point by optimizing the area between the MLC leaves and the target contour. The resulting dynamic trajectories are used as input to perform the optimization using a research version of the VMAT optimization algorithm and the ESRAPI. The feasibility of this procedure was tested for a clinically motivated head and neck case. Resulting dose distributions for the VMAT plan and for the dynamic trajectory treatment plan were compared based on DVH‐parameters.Results:While the DVH for the target is virtually preserved, improvements in maximum dose for the DTRT plan were achieved for all OARs except for the inner‐ear, where maximum dose remains the same. The major improvements in maximum dose were 6.5% of the prescribed dose (66 Gy) for the parotid and 5.5% for the myelon and the eye.Conclusion:The result of this work suggests that DTRT has a great potential to reduce dose to OARs with similar target coverage when compared to conventional VMAT treatment plans. This work was supported by Varian Medical Systems.This work was supported by Varian Medical Systems.
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