In the radiotherapy of prostate cancer, technique determines the doses to the penile structures

For 11 consecutive prostate cancer patients undergoing three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in our institution, penile structures (PNS) were outlined in CT images obtained for treatment planning purposes. Dose-volume histograms (DVHs) were compared in order to study dose-volume relations for three techniques: 4FLD, an axial coplanar, four-field box technique; 6FLD, a six-field coplanar technique; and 4NAX, a coplanar but non-axial, four-field technique. All three techniques delivered equal doses to the planning target volumes (PTV). Our statistical analyses strongly indicate that the three techniques can be ranked as 6FLD better than 4FLD (and 4FLD better than 4NAX) as far as irradiating PNS volume during treatment of prostate cancer (PC) is concerned. For each technique, there is a "spread" owing to differences in patient anatomy and/or target size, position, and extent, but each technique has a similar "profile" or "shape" distinct from other techniques. Whether irradiating smaller volumes of PNS will influence the sexual potency outcome remains to be demonstrated. However, PNS should be considered as another critical structure in addition to rectum, bladder and femoral heads in the radiotherapy (RT) of PC, especially in 3DCRT dose escalation studies. Sexual potency outcomes can be correlated to dose-volume relations in the future and this will help refine radiotherapy techniques further.

Craniospinal axis irradiation: an improved electron technique for irradiation of the spinal axis

In this work we review the dosimetric features of craniospinal axis irradiation in the areas of matching cranial and spinal fields, with reference to the normal structures within the spinal field. The implications of the use of photon or electron modalities for the spinal port were evaluated. A novel method of matching the cranial photon and the spinal electron fields involving a computer-aided junction design is presented. The technique involves moving the photon beam in three steps to degrade its penumbra to match that of the electron field. Thermoluminescent dosimetry in a Rando phantom and computed tomography-based dose-volume histogram study for an illustrative paediatric case were used to compare the dose to normal structures within the spinal field. Our results show that the use of electrons for the spinal field leads to better sparing of deep seated normal structures. In the case of bone marrow, the use of a customized bolus for the spinal field results in an improved dose distribution, making electrons potentially superior to photons for radiobiological reasons.

An updated dose-response analysis in Hodgkin's disease

Although radiotherapy cures a very high percentage of early stage patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD), there is a controversial dichotomy in the dose recommendations believed necessary to achieve greater than 95% local control: Whereas one school of thought is to administer 40-44 Gy, other reports claim equal results with about 36 Gy. It is also not clear what doses are required for various tumor cell burdens. The original recommendation of 40-44 Gy was derived from a retrospective analysis of in-field control of disease from mostly kilovoltage data three decades ago. However, there have been many advances in the evaluation of the extent of the disease and in the practice of radiotherapy since the 1960s. Many more dose-control studies have been published in recent years, necessitating a revisit to the dose-response question in HD. Here we have compiled the dose-control data from the 60s to the 90s and analyzed the original and the updated data with the same statistical method to see any differences. We also have performed similar analysis of dose-control information for subclinical disease, less than 6 cm and greater than 6 cm disease. Whereas original analysis (1040 sites at risk) suggested 98% in-field control with 44 Gy, our re-analysis including modern megavoltage data (4117 sites at risk) shows that similar in-field control rates could be achieved with 37.5 Gy. With megavoltage radiotherapy, the doses required for 98% in-field control for subclinical disease and disease of less than 6 cm and greater than 6 cm are, 32.4 Gy (1426 sites at risk), 36.9 Gy (1005 sites at risk) and 37.4 Gy (98 sites at risk), respectively. The results of current updated analysis will provide in-field disease control probabilities for different disease burdens and can serve as a guide in deciding dose prescriptions for practicing radiation oncologists.

The use of beam's eye view volumetrics in the selection of non-coplanar radiation portals

In 3-dimensional treatment planning, beam's eye view (BEV) is used as an interactive tool to define portal entry angles that exclude critical structures while fully encompassing the target volume. With beam's eye view volumetrics (BEV volumetrics), the volume of intersected normal tissues is also calculated and is used as a quantitative tool to choose portal orientations that minimize normal tissue volumes irradiated. The axial beam entry angle and a polar angle (relative to the patient longitudinal axis) are specified to define the central axis orientation. Using BEV volumetrics, we have studied the quantities of normal tissues irradiated when treating tumors in the abdomen, thorax, and pelvis. The reduction of normal tissue irradiated is a strong function of site and patient-specific tumor size and location. Volumetrics combined with BEV is found to be useful in treatment planning because it (a) provides quantitative information needed in rationally choosing portal entry angles, (b) provides a near interactive speed approach to understanding the relative merits of different multiple field plans, and (c) compliments the information provided by the more time-consuming generation of dose volume histograms.

Beam's eye view volumetrics: an aid in rapid treatment plan development and evaluation

A well-designed treatment plan fully irradiates the target to the prescribed dose while minimizing radiation to adjacent critical structures. Beam's eye view is an important component of treatment planning systems because it provides the operator with tools needed to achieve this goal. Through interactive manipulation of displays, the planner uses beam's eye view to adequately cover the target volume while geometrically avoiding certain critical, normal structures. A factor not considered in current beam's eye view programs is the fractional volume of each structure irradiated given a specified beam direction. We have incorporated a rapid volume calculation capability in our beam's eye view program, and have applied it to provide a quantitative aid to treatment planning development and evaluation. Treatment planning of lung tumors has been studied using this tool. Volumes of lung and spinal cord treated as a function of portal angle may be calculated much more rapidly than dose volume histograms and yet provide quantitative indices which follow the trends of dose volume histograms as a function of field angle. Plots of normal tissue volume irradiated as a function of field angle identify the optimal angle to minimize irradiated volume of a structure at a glance. For multiple field plans, a bitmap approach identifies areas treated by various combinations of beams. Volumetrics combined with beam's eye view are useful in treatment planning because they (a) provide quantitative information needed in choosing and optimizing portal entry angle (b) provide an interactive approach to understanding the relative merits of different multiple field plans and (c) complement the information provided by the more time consuming generation of dose volume histograms. The clinical application of this tool in treatment planning is presented.

Quantitation of treatment volumes from CT and MRI in high-grade gliomas: implications for radiotherapy

Long-term survival of patients with high-grade gliomas remains extremely poor. The main reason for such an outcome is local failure, or recurrence, after surgery and/or radiotherapy. Higher doses of radiation may result in decreased local failure rates provided that the location (and extent) of gross tumor and microscopic disease can be defined accurately. The abnormalities appearing in images from diagnostic modalities, such as CT and MRI, are being used as a starting point and as a guide for the clinical definition of tumor and its extensions. However, some recent studies on two-dimensional specimens, correlating histopathological findings to CT and MRI images, showed that the resulting definition of tumor cell extensions was unsatisfactory, different, and in need of ample margins. We carried out a retrospective analysis to compare the target volumes that would have been defined by CT, T2-weighted MRI, and T1-weighted postgadolinium MRI images of the same individual and to explore the implications of the resulting volume definitions for radiotherapy. The results of our limited study, based on the margins used, indicate that the CT-defined target volume is consistently larger than that from either of the two MRI modalities and suggest that noncoplanar approaches for its treatment and other local approaches for tumor boost should be considered. We conclude that until more definitive histopathological guidelines correlated to image features have been formulated and agreed upon, one should try to make full use of all available diagnostic information in order to minimize the possibility of geographical miss of target extensions.

Optimization of radical radiotherapy with beam's eye view techniques for non-small cell lung cancer

The presence of vital and sensitive organs such as the spinal cord, heart, and lungs makes curative radiotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer difficult to implement and necessitates use of oblique portals. Defining the target volumes in oblique portals is very difficult. We now show, for non-small cell lung cancer, how beam's eye view-based radiotherapy can be used for accurate delineation of treatment volumes and for avoidance of real or dosimetric geographic misses. Furthermore, the beam's eye view-based method enables one to project accurately a 2-dimensional image of 3-dimensional disease extension, especially in oblique fields, thus facilitating the design of accurate customized blocking and avoiding inadvertent blocking of the tumor or unnecessary irradiation of normal tissues. Beam's eye view volumetric analysis is helpful for devising a customized treatment plan for each patient. Such customization may minimize local failure, which is one cause of poor results of radiotherapy in this site. Beam's eye view-based radiotherapy has the potential of improving local control and hence may improve the survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Dosimetry of Sr-90 ophthalmic applicators

Sr-90 ophthalmic applicators are commonly used for the treatment of superficial eye disorders. Although a variety of dosimetric devices such as film, thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD's), ion chambers, and radiochromic foils have been used to measure the peak dose at the applicator surface, there is no internationally agreed upon calibration procedure. Recently, large discrepancies among calibrations of the same applicator at three institutions have been reported. Here we describe a technique to obtain the peak dose rate at the applicator surface using LiF TLD's. The technique can be used for the calibration of flat as well as curved surface applicators. Results for two flat and three concave applicators are presented. Our measurement of the surface dose rate for one of the flat applicators is compared with those obtained by four other institutions, each using different dosimetric devices.

Computer-aided construction and quantitative evaluation of missing-tissue compensators

We have implemented a system for the design and construction of missing-tissue compensators for Radiation Therapy. The patient topography is obtained by Moire' photography. The thickness of lead required to compensate for a given amount of missing tissue was determined experimentally for three photo-beam energies and a combination of field sizes and geometries. With the aid of a computer, tissue deficit information is converted to isolead-thickness lines. These are used as input to a computer-controlled milling machine to fabricate the compensator. The effectiveness of compensation was evaluated in phantom and in vivo. This work describes the initial effort required to implement a program for compensation of tissue deficit at the patient's surface. It also introduces tools for assessing quantitatively the degree of dose uniformity which can be achieved using compensators in clinical applications.

Beam's-eye-view aided treatment planning for a nasopharyngeal lesion: a case report

We report on the application of CT-based multilevel treatment planning to achieve complete and uniform dose distribution over the entire target while sparing critical structures. Treatment strategy and parameters are chosen on the slice containing the isocenter. Target coverage and organ sparing is achieved on all other slices by independently adjusting the asymmetric field width at each level, stimulating the effects of custom blocks. The optimized field borders are back projected using beam's eye views (BEV) from each treatment angle. The BEV printouts are used to assist the physician in the delineation of field blocking on the simulation films.

Randomized neutron dose searching study for malignant gliomas of the brain: results of an RTOG study. Radiation Therapy Oncology Group

From September 1980 through January 1985, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) conducted a randomized, dose-searching study testing the efficacy of a concomitant neutron boost along with whole brain photon irradiation in the treatment of malignant gliomas of the brain. Patients had to have biopsy-proven, supratentorial, anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme (Nelson schema) to be eligible for the study. The whole brain photon irradiation was given at 1.5 Gy per treatment, 5 days-a-week to a total dose of 45 Gy. Two days-a-week the patients were to receive neutron boost irradiation to the tumor volume as determined on CT scans. The neutron irradiation was to be given prior to and within 3 hours of the photon irradiation on that day. The rationale for this particular treatment regime is discussed. A total of 190 evaluable patients were randomized among 6 different neutron dose levels: 3.6, 4.2, 4.8, 5.2, 5.6 and 6.0 Gyn gamma. There was no difference in overall survival among the 6 different dose levels, but for patients having less aggressive tumor histology (anaplastic astrocytoma), there was a suggestion that patients on the higher dose levels had poorer overall survival than patients on the lower dose levels and also did worse than historical photon controls. Important prognostic factors were identified using a Cox stepwise regression analysis. Tumor histology, Karnofsky performance status, and patient age were found to be related to survival while extent of surgery and neutron dose had no significant impact. Autopsies were performed on 35 patients and the results correlated with the actual neutron dose as determined by central-axis isodose calculations. At all dose levels there were some patients with both radiation damage to normal brain tissue and evidence of viable tumor. No evidence was found for a therapeutic window using this particular treatment regimen.

Correlation of microdosimetric measurements with relative biological effectiveness from clinical experience for two neutron therapy beams

Microdosimetric measurements were made for the neutron therapy beams at the University of Chicago and at the Cleveland Clinic with the same geometry and phantom material using the same tissue-equivalent spherical proportional counter and standard techniques. The energy deposition spectra (dose distributions in lineal energy) are compared for these beams and for their scattered components (direct beam blocked). The model of dual radiation action (DRA) of Kellerer and Rossi is employed to interpret these data in terms of biological effectiveness over this limited range of radiation qualities. The site-diameter parameter of the DRA theory is determined for the Cleveland beam by setting the biological effectiveness (relative to 60Co gamma radiation) equal to the relative biological effectiveness value deduced from radiobiology experiments and clinical experience. The resulting value of this site-diameter parameter is then used to predict the biological effectiveness of the Chicago beam. The prediction agrees with the value deduced from radiobiology and clinical experience. The biological effectiveness of the scattered components of both beams is also estimated using the model.