Step dynamics on Au(110) studied with a high-temperature, high-speed Scanning Tunneling Microscope

FWN – Publicaties zonder aanstelling Universiteit Leide

Shortening delivery times of intensity modulated proton therapy by reducing proton energy layers during treatment plan optimization

Purpose To shorten delivery times of intensity modulated proton therapy by reducing the number of energy layers in the treatment plan. Methods and Materials We have developed an energy layer reduction method, which was implemented into our in-house-developed multicriteria treatment planning system "Erasmus-iCycle." The method consisted of 2 components: (1) minimizing the logarithm of the total spot weight per energy layer; and (2) iteratively excluding low-weighted energy layers. The method was benchmarked by comparing a robust "time-efficient plan" (with energy layer reduction) with a robust "standard clinical plan" (without energy layer reduction) for 5 oropharyngeal cases and 5 prostate cases. Both plans of each patient had equal robust plan quality, because the worst-case dose parameters of the standard clinical plan were used as dose constraints for the time-efficient plan. Worst-case robust optimization was performed, accounting for setup errors of 3 mm and range errors of 3% + 1 mm. We evaluated the number of energy layers and the expected delivery time per fraction, assuming 30 seconds per beam direction, 10 ms per spot, and 400 Giga-protons per minute. The energy switching time was varied from 0.1 to 5 seconds. Results The number of energy layers was on average reduced by 45% (range, 30%-56%) for the oropharyngeal cases and by 28% (range, 25%-32%) for the prostate cases. When assuming 1, 2, or 5 seconds energy switching time, the average delivery time was shortened from 3.9 to 3.0 minutes (25%), 6.0 to 4.2 minutes (32%), or 12.3 to 7.7 minutes (38%) for the oropharyngeal cases, and from 3.4 to 2.9 minutes (16%), 5.2 to 4.2 minutes (20%), or 10.6 to 8.0 minutes (24%) for the prostate cases. Conclusions Delivery times of intensity modulated proton therapy can be reduced substantially without compromising robust plan quality. Shorter delivery times are likely to reduce treatment uncertainties and costs

The impact of technology on the changing practice of lung SBRT

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung tumours has been gaining wide acceptance in lung cancer. Here, we review the technological evolution of SBRT delivery in lung cancer, from the first treatments using the stereotactic body frame in the 1990's to modern developments in image guidance and motion management. Finally, we discuss the impact of current technological approaches on the requirements for quality assurance as well as future technological developments

Individualized Nonadaptive and Online-Adaptive Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Treatment Strategies for Cervical Cancer Patients Based on Pretreatment Acquired Variable Bladder Filling Computed Tomography Scans

PurposeTo design and evaluate individualized nonadaptive and online-adaptive strategies based on a pretreatment established motion model for the highly deformable target volume in cervical cancer patients.Methods and MaterialsFor 14 patients, nine to ten variable bladder filling computed tomography (CT) scans were acquired at pretreatment and after 40 Gy. Individualized model-based internal target volumes (mbITVs) accounting for the cervix and uterus motion due to bladder volume changes were generated by using a motion-model constructed from two pretreatment CT scans (full and empty bladder). Two individualized strategies were designed: a nonadaptive strategy, using an mbITV accounting for the full-range of bladder volume changes throughout the treatment; and an online-adaptive strategy, using mbITVs of bladder volume subranges to construct a library of plans. The latter adapts the treatment online by selecting the plan-of-the-day from the library based on the measured bladder volume. The individualized strategies were evaluated by the seven to eight CT scans not used for mbITVs construction, and compared with a population-based approach. Geometric uniform margins around planning cervix–uterus and mbITVs were determined to ensure adequate coverage. For each strategy, the percentage of the cervix–uterus, bladder, and rectum volumes inside the planning target volume (PTV), and the clinical target volume (CTV)-to-PTV volume (volume difference between PTV and CTV) were calculated.ResultsThe margin for the population-based approach was 38 mm and for the individualized strategies was 7 to 10 mm. Compared with the population-based approach, the individualized nonadaptive strategy decreased the CTV-to-PTV volume by 48% ± 6% and the percentage of bladder and rectum inside the PTV by 5% to 45% and 26% to 74% (p < 0.001), respectively. Replacing the individualized nonadaptive strategy by an online-adaptive, two-plan library further decreased the percentage of bladder and rectum inside the PTV (0% to 10% and −1% to 9%; p < 0.004) and the CTV-to-PTV volume (4–96 ml).ConclusionsCompared with population-based margins, an individualized PTV results in better organ-at-risk sparing. Online-adaptive radiotherapy further improves organ-at-risk sparing

Reducing the Risk of Secondary Lung Cancer in Treatment Planning of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation

Purpose: Adjuvant accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) results in low local recurrence risks. However, the survival benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy APBI for low-risk breast cancer might partially be offset by the risk of radiation-induced lung cancer. Reducing the lung dose mitigates this risk, but this could result in higher doses to the ipsilateral breast. Different external beam APBI techniques are equally conformal and homogenous, but the intermediate to low dose distribution differs. Thus, the risk of toxicity is different. The purpose of this study is to quantify the trade-off between secondary lung cancer risk and breast dose in treatment planning and to compare an optimal coplanar and non-coplanar technique. Methods: A total of 440 APBI treatment plans were generated using automated treatment planning for a coplanar VMAT beam-setup and a non-coplanar robotic stereotactic radiotherapy beam-setup. This enabled an unbiased comparison of two times 11 Pareto-optimal plans for 20 patie

Re-irradiation: Outcome, cumulative dose and toxicity in patients retreated with stereotactic radiotherapy in the abdominal or pelvic region

The purpose of the present study was to explore the outcome, cumulative dose in tumor and organs at risk and toxicity after extra-cranial stereotactic re-irradiation. Twenty-seven patients were evaluated who had been re-irradiated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) after conventional radiotherapy (CRT). The dose summation of the SBRT and CRT plans was done by dose point calculations accounting for fraction size by the linear-quadratic model. Efficacy and toxicity was scored by looking at the reduction in tumor size, pain and bleeding. Symptomatic response was observed in 96% of the patients. The median maximum SBRT dose to the tumor was 90 Gy3 (range: 42-420 Gy3). The median cumulative dose for the rectum, bowel and bladder resulted in 104 Gy3, 98 Gy3 and 113 Gy3, respectively. No grades 5, 4 and 3 acute and late toxicity was observed. In conclusion: Re-irradiation to the same region using extra-cranial stereotactic radiotherapy is feasible and resulted in a 96% symptomatic response with low toxicity

Commissioning and clinical implementation of the first commercial independent Monte Carlo 3D dose calculation to replace CyberKnife M6™ patient-specific QA measurements

Purpose: To report on the commissioning and clinical validation of the first commercially available independent Monte Carlo (MC) three-dimensional (3D) dose calculation for CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system® (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA). Methods: The independent dose calculation (IDC) by SciMoCa® (Scientific RT, Munich, Germany) was validated based on water measurements of output factors and dose profiles (unshielded diode, field-size dependent corrections). A set of 84 patient-specific quality assurance (QA) measurements for multi-leaf collimator (MLC) plans, using an Octavius two-dimensional SRS1000 array (PTW, Freiburg, Germany), was compared to results of respective calculations. Statistical process control (SPC) was used to detect plans outside action levels. Results: Of all output factors for the three collimator systems of the CyberKnife, 99% agreed within 2% and 81% within 1%, with a maximum deviation of 3.2% for a 5-mm fixed cone. The profiles were compared using a one-dimensional gamma evaluation with 2% dose difference and 0.5 mm distance-to-agreement (Γ(2,0.5)). The off-centre ratios showed an average pass rate >99% (92–100%). The agreement of the depth dose profiles depended on field size, with lowest pass rates for the smallest MLC field sizes. The average depth dose pass rate was 88% (35–99%). The IDCs showed a Γ(2,1) pass rate of 98%. Statistical process control detected six plans outside tolerance levels in the measurements, all of which could be attributed the measurement setup. Independent dose calculations showed problems in five plans, all due to differences in the algorithm between TPS and IDC. Based on these results changes were made in the class solution for treatment plans. Conclusion: The first commercially available MC 3D dose IDC was successfully commissioned and validated for the CyberKnife and replaced all routine patientspecific QA measurements in our clinic

Real-space measurement of surface roughening

Quantum Matter and Optic