Development of Total Lymphoid Irradiation (TLI)-Dedicated Shielding and Image-Guided System and Dose Evaluation Using 3D-Printed Rat Phantom

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to propose a technique for delivering accurate doses in an image-guided system by developing an experimental setup optimized for total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) in rat lung transplantation. Materials and methods: In this study, a position-controlled shielding system was developed, and the dose was quantitatively evaluated using a 3D rat phantom and Gafchromic EBT3 film. In addition, we made our own image-guided system that allows the position of the rat and the shielding system to be confirmed during TLI. Results: As a result of using the position-controlled shielding system, it was found that the doses to the head and lungs were reduced by 93.1 and 87.4%, respectively, of the prescribed doses. In addition, it was shown that the position of the shielding system can be easily confirmed by using the image guidance system. Conclusion: A shielding apparatus that can control dose delivery according to the size of the rat can optimize the dose for TLI in rat lung transplantation.ope

An Empirical Approach to Dosimetric Effect of Carbon Fiber Couch for Flattening Filter Free Beam of Elekta LINAC

Generally, it is recommended that the dosimetric effect of carbon fiber couch should be considered especially for an intensity-modulated therapy with a large portion of monitor units from posterior angles. Even a flattening filter free (FFF) beam has been used for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), the effect of carbon fiber couch for FFF beam is not well known. This work is an effort to evaluate the dosimetric　effect of carbon fiber couch for flattened and FFF beam of Elekta linac empirically. The absorbed doses were measured with Farmer type chamber and water-equivalent phantoms with and without couch. And differences of the absorbed doses between with and without couch defined as “couch effect”. By comparing calculated dose in treatment planning system (TPS) with measured dose, the optimal density of couch was evaluated. Finally, differences on patient's skin dose and target dose by couch were evaluated in TPS. As a result, the couch effect for 6 and 10 MV flattened beam were ”2.71% and −2.32%, respectively. These values were agreed with provided data by vendor within 0.5%. The couch effect for 6 and 10 MV FFF beam were ”3.75% and ”2.80%, respectively. The patient's skin dose was increased as 18.6% and target dose was decreased as 0.87%, respectively. It was realized that the couch effect of FFF beam was more severe than that of flattened beam. Patient's skin dose and target dose were changed by the couch effect.ope

Feasibility of hybrid TomoHelical- and TomoDirect-based volumetric gradient matching technique for total body irradiation

Background: Tomotherapy-based total body irradiation (TBI) is performed using the head-first position (HFP) and feet-first position (FFP) due to treatment length exceeding the 135 cm limit. To reduce the dosimetric variation at the match lines, we propose and verify a volumetric gradient matching technique (VGMT) by combining TomoHelical (TH) and TomoDirect (TD) modes. Methods: Two planning CT image sets were acquired with HFP and FFP using 15 × 55 × 18 cm3 of solid water phantom. Planning target volume (PTV) was divided into upper, lower, and gradient volumes. The junction comprised 2-cm thick five and seven gradient volumes (5-GVs and 7-GVs) to create a dose distribution with a gentle slope. TH-IMRT and TD-IMRT plans were generated with 5-GVs and 7-GVs. The setup error in the calculated dose was assessed by shifting dose distribution of the FFP plan by 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm in the longitudinal direction and comparing it with the original. Doses for 95% (D95) and 5% of the PTV (D5) were calculated for all simulated setup error plans. Absolute dose measurements were performed using an ionization chamber in the junction. Results: The TH&TD plan produced a linear gradient in junction volume, comparable to that of the TH&TH plan. D5 of the PTV was 110% of the prescribed dose when the FFP plan was shifted 0.7 cm and 1.2 cm in the superior direction for 5-GVs and 7-GVs. D95 of the PTV decreased to < 90% of the prescribed dose when the FF plan was shifted 1.1 cm and 1.3 cm in the inferior direction for 5-GVs and 7-GVs. The absolute measured dose showed a good correlation with the calculated dose in the gradient junction volume. The average percent difference (±SD) in all measured points was − 0.7 ± 1.6%, and the average dose variations between depths was − 0.18 ± 1.07%. Conclusion: VGMT can create a linear dose gradient across the junction area in both TH&TH and TH&TD and can minimize the dose sensitivity to longitudinal setup errors in tomotherapy-based TBI.ope

Skin Dose Comparison of CyberKnife and Helical Tomotherapy for Head-and-Neck Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

Purpose: This study conducts a comparative evaluation of the skin dose in CyberKnife (CK) and Helical Tomotherapy (HT) to predict the accurate dose of radiation and minimize skin burns in headand- neck stereotactic body radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Arbitrarily-defined planning target volume (PTV) close to the skin was drawn on the planning computed tomography acquired from a head-and-neck phantom with 19 optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) attached to the surface (3 OSLDs were positioned at the skin close to PTV and 16 OSLDs were near sideburns and forehead, away from PTV). The calculation doses were obtained from the MultiPlan 5.1.2 treatment planning system using raytracing (RT), finite size pencil beam (FSPB), and Monte Carlo (MC) algorithms for CK. For HT, t he s kin d ose w as e stimated v ia c onvolution s uperposition ( CS) a lgorithm f rom t he Tomotherapy planning station 5.0.2.5. The prescribed dose was 8 Gy for 95% coverage of the PTV. Results and Conclusions: The mean differences between calculation and measurement values were −1.2±3.1%, 2.5±7.9%, −2.8±3.8%, −6.6±8.8%, and −1.4±1.8% in CS, RT, RT with contour correction (CC), FSPB, and MC, respectively. FSPB showed a dose error comparable to RT. CS and RT with CC led to a small error as compared to FSPB and RT. Considering OSLDs close to PTV, MC minimized the uncertainty of skin dose as compared to other algorithms.ope

Impact of the Respiratory Motion and Longitudinal Profile on Helical Tomotherapy

The TomoTherapy® beam-delivery method creates helical beam-junctioning patterns in the dose distribution within the target. In addition, the dose discrepancy results in the particular region where the resonance by pattern of dose delivery occurs owing to the change in the position and shape of internal organs with a patient's respiration during long treatment times. In this study, we evaluated the dose pattern of the longitudinal profile with the change in respiration. The superiorinferior motion signal of the programmable respiratory motion phantom was obtained using AbChes as a four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) original moving signal. We delineated virtual targets in the phantom and planned to deliver the prescription dose of 300 cGy using field widths of 1.0 cm, 2.5 cm, and 5.0 cm. An original moving signal was fitted to reflecting the beam delivery time of the TomoTherapy®. The EBT3 film was inserted into the phantom movement cassette, and static, without the movement and with the original movement, was measured with signal changes of 2.0 s, 4.0 s, and 5.0 s periods, and 2.0 mm and 4.0 mm amplitudes. It was found that a dose fluctuation within ±4.0% occurred in all longitudinal profiles. Compared with the original movement, the region of the gamma index above 1 partially appeared within the target and the border of the target when the period and amplitude were changed. Gamma passing rates were 95.00% or more. However, cases for a 5.0 s period and 4.0 mm amplitude at a field width of 2.5 cm and for 2.0 s and 5.0 s periods at a field width of 5.0 cm have gamma passing rates of 92.73%, 90.31%, 90.31%, and 93.60%. TomoTherapy® s hows a s mall d ifference i n d ose d istribution according to the changes of period and amplitude of respiration. Therefore, to treat a variable respiratory motion region, a margin reflecting the degree of change of respiration signal is required.ope

Acceptance Testing and Commissioning of Robotic Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy M6 System Equipped with InCiseTM2 Multileaf Collimator

This work reports the acceptance testing and commissioning experience of the Robotic Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) M6 system with a newly released InCiseTM2 Multileaf Collimator (MLC) installed at the Yonsei Cancer Center. Acceptance testing included a mechanical interdigitation test, leaf positional accuracy, leakage check, and End-to-End (E2E) tests. Beam data measurements included tissue-phantom ratios (TPRs), off-center ratios (OCRs), output factors collected at 11 field sizes (the smallest field size was 7.6 mm×7.7 mm and largest field size was 115.0 mm×100.1 mm at 800 mm source-to-axis distance), and open beam profiles. The beam model was verified by checking patient-specific quality assurance (QA) in four fiducial-inserted phantoms, using 10 intracranial and extracranial patient plans. All measurements for acceptance testing satisfied manufacturing specifications. Mean leaf position offsets using the Garden Fence test were found to be 0.01±0.06 mm and 0.07±0.05 mm for X1 and X2 leaf banks, respectively. Maximum and average leaf leakages were 0.20% and 0.18%, respectively. E2E tests for five tracking modes showed 0.26 mm (6D Skull), 0.3 mm (Fiducial), 0.26 mm (Xsight Spine), 0.62 mm (Xsight Lung), and 0.6 mm (Synchrony). TPRs, OCRs, output factors, and open beams measured under various conditions agreed with composite data provided from the manufacturer to within 2%. Patient-specific QA results were evaluated in two ways. Point dose measurements with an ion chamber were all within the 5% absolute-dose agreement, and relative-dose measurements using an array ion chamber detector all satisfied the 3%/3 mm gamma criterion for more than 90% of the measurement points. The Robotic IMRT M6 system equipped with the InCiseTM2 MLC was proven to be accurate and reliable.ope

History of the Photon Beam Dose Calculation Algorithm in Radiation Treatment Planning System

Dose calculation algorithms play an important role in radiation therapy and are even the basis for optimizing treatment plans, an important feature in the development of complex treatment technologies such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy. We reviewed the past and current status of dose calculation algorithms used in the treatment planning system for radiation therapy. The radiation-calculating dose calculation algorithm can be broadly classified into three main groups based on the mechanisms used: (1) factor-based, (2) model-based, and (3) principlebased. Factor-based algorithms are a type of empirical dose calculation that interpolates or extrapolates the dose in some basic measurements. Model-based algorithms, represented by the pencil beam convolution, analytical anisotropic, and collapse cone convolution algorithms, use a simplified physical process by using a convolution equation that convolutes the primary photon energy fluence with a kernel. Model-based algorithms allowing side scattering when beams are transmitted to the heterogeneous media provide more precise dose calculation results than correction-based algorithms. Principle-based algorithms, represented by Monte Carlo dose calculations, simulate all real physical processes involving beam particles during transportation; therefore, dose calculations are accurate but time consuming. For approximately 70 years, through the development of dose calculation algorithms and computing technology, the accuracy of dose calculation seems close to our clinical needs. Next-generation dose calculation algorithms are expected to include biologically equivalent doses or biologically effective doses, and doctors expect to be able to use them to improve the quality of treatment in the near future.ope

Practical Implementation of Patient-Specific Quality Assurance for Small and Multiple Brain Tumors in CyberKnife with Fixed Collimators

This paper evaluates patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) in the treatment of small and multiple tumors by the CyberKnife system with fixed collimators, using an ion chamber and EBT3 films. We selected 49 patients with single or multiple brain tumors, and the treatment plans include one to four targets with total volumes ranging from 0.12 cc to 3.74 cc. All PSQA deliveries were performed with a stereotactic dose verification phantom. The A16 microchamber (Standard Imaging, WI, USA) and Gafchromic EBT3 film (Ashland ISP Advanced Materials, NJ, USA) were inserted into the phantom to measure the point dose of the target and the dose distribution, respectively. The film was scanned 1 hr after irradiation by a film digitizer scanner and analyzed using RIT software (Radiological Imaging Technology, CO, USA). The acceptance criteria was <5% for the point dose measurement and >90% gamma passing rate using 3%/3 mm and relative dose difference, respectively. The point dose errors between the calculated and measured dose by the ion chamber were in the range of −17.5% to 8.03%. The mean point dose differences for 5 mm, 7.5 mm, and 10 mm fixed cone size was −11.1%, −4.1%, and −1.5%, respectively. The mean gamma passing rates for all cases was 96.1%. Although the maximum dose distribution of multiple targets was not shown in the film, gamma distribution showed that dose verification for multiple tumors can be performed. The use of the microchamber and EBT3 film made it possible to verify the dosimetric and mechanical accuracy of small and multiple targets. In particular, the correction factors should be applied to small fixed collimators less than 10 mm.ope

Patient-Specific Quality Assurance Using a 3D-Printed Chest Phantom for Intraoperative Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer

This study aims to confirm the usefulness of patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) using three-dimensional (3D)-printed phantoms in ensuring the stability of IORT and the precision of the treatment administered. In this study, five patient-specific chest phantoms were fabricated using a 3D printer such that they were dosimetrically equivalent to the chests of actual patients in terms of organ density and shape around the given target, where a spherical applicator was inserted for breast IORT treatment via the INTRABEAM™ system. Models of lungs and soft tissue were fabricated by applying infill ratios corresponding to the mean Hounsfield unit (HU) values calculated from CT scans of the patients. The two models were then assembled into one. A 3D-printed water-equivalent phantom was also fabricated to verify the vendor-provided depth dose curve. Pieces of an EBT3 film were inserted into the 3D-printed customized phantoms to measure the doses. A 10 Gy prescription dose based on the surface of the spherical applicator was delivered and measured through EBT3 films parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the beam. The shapes of the phantoms, CT values, and absorbed doses were compared between the expected and printed ones. The morphological agreement among the five patient-specific 3D chest phantoms was assessed. The mean differences in terms of HU between the patients and the phantoms was 2.2 HU for soft tissue and -26.2 HU for the lungs. The dose irradiated on the surface of the spherical applicator yielded a percent error of -2.16% ± 3.91% between the measured and prescribed doses. In a depth dose comparison using a 3D-printed water phantom, the uncertainty in the measurements based on the EBT3 film decreased as the depth increased beyond 5 mm, and a good agreement in terms of the absolute dose was noted between the EBT3 film and the vendor data. These results demonstrate the applicability of the 3D-printed chest phantom for PSQA in breast IORT. This enhanced precision offers new opportunities for advancements in IORT.ope

In vivo dosimetry and acute toxicity in breast cancer patients undergoing intraoperative radiotherapy as boost

PURPOSE: To report the results of a correlation analysis of skin dose assessed by in vivo dosimetry and the incidence of acute toxicity. This is a phase 2 trial evaluating the feasibility of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) as a boost for breast cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible patients were treated with IORT of 20 Gy followed by whole breast irradiation (WBI) of 46 Gy. A total of 55 patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 month after WBI were evaluated. Optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter (OSLD) detected radiation dose delivered to the skin during IORT. Acute toxicity was recorded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0. Clinical parameters were correlated with seroma formation and maximum skin dose. RESULTS: Median follow-up after IORT was 25.9 weeks (range, 12.7 to 50.3 weeks). Prior to WBI, only one patient developed acute toxicity. Following WBI, 30 patients experienced grade 1 skin toxicity and three patients had grade 2 skin toxicity. Skin dose during IORT exceeded 5 Gy in two patients: with grade 2 complications around the surgical scar in one patient who received 8.42 Gy. Breast volume on preoperative images (p = 0.001), ratio of applicator diameter and breast volume (p = 0.002), and distance between skin and tumor (p = 0.003) showed significant correlations with maximum skin dose. CONCLUSIONS: IORT as a boost was well-tolerated among Korean women without severe acute complication. In vivo dosimetry with OSLD can help ensure safe delivery of IORT as a boost.ope