A study of the effect of setup errors and organ motion on prostate cancer treatment with IMRT

Full daily re-optimization improves plan quality during online adaptive radiotherapy

Background and purpose

Daily online treatment plan adaptation requires a fast workflow and planning process. Current online planning consists of adaptation of a predefined reference plan, which might be suboptimal in cases of large anatomic changes. The aim of this study was to investigate plan quality differences between the current online re-planning approach and a complete re-optimization.

Material and methods

Magnetic resonance linear accelerator reference plans for ten prostate cancer patients were automatically generated using particle swarm optimization (PSO). Adapted plans were created for each fraction using (1) the current re-planning approach and (2) full PSO re-optimization and evaluated overall compliance with institutional dose-volume criteria compared to (3) clinically delivered fractions. Relative volume differences between reference and daily anatomy were assessed for planning target volumes (PTV60, PTV57.6), rectum and bladder and correlated with dose-volume results.

Results

The PSO approach showed significantly higher adherence to dose-volume criteria than the reference approach and clinical fractions (p < 0.001). In 74 % of PSO plans at most one criterion failed compared to 56 % in the reference approach and 41 % in clinical plans. A fair correlation between PTV60 D98% and relative bladder volume change was observed for the reference approach. Bladder volume reductions larger than 50 % compared to the reference plan recurrently decreased PTV60 D98% below 56 Gy.

Conclusion

Complete re-optimization maintained target coverage and organs at risk sparing even after large anatomic variations. Re-planning based on daily magnetic resonance imaging was sufficient for small variations, while large variations led to decreasing target coverage and organ-at-risk sparing.

Dynamic intrafractional position monitoring with implanted fiducial markers for enhanced accuracy in radiotherapy of prostate cancer

INTRODUCTION

Recent advances in the radiation therapy of prostate cancer have brought a shift toward moderate- and ultra-hypofractionated treatment schedules. Reducing safety margins can broaden the therapeutic window in stereotactic treatments and alleviate concerns for toxicity in high dose-per-fraction treatment schedules. Management of intrafractional motion is a necessity for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). It can be achieved by performing intrafractional image guidance and position corrections. We evaluate the suitability of such a novel prostate motion management system and its potential benefit for treatment accuracy.

METHODS

Intrafractional IGRT was performed for 22 patients during 149 treatment sessions using repeated orthogonal kV-XR imaging of implanted fiducial markers with the ExacTrac Dynamic (EXTD) system. Position measurements were taken four times during each arc of the applied volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Position correction was performed if translational deviation exceeded 2 mm in any direction.

RESULTS

Of 677 single EXTD measurements, 20.6% exceeded the predefined threshold of 2 mm 3D deviation. Without intrafractional corrections, 39.4% of all individual measurements would exceed the threshold. The 3D accuracy could thus significantly be improved, reducing mean 3D shifts from 1.97 (± 1.44) mm to 1.39 (± 1.01) mm by performing intrafractional IGRT. In total, 34% of all treatment sessions required correction of intrafractional position shifts.

CONCLUSION

Monitoring of prostate motion using repeated intrafractional orthogonal kV-X-ray-based position measurements of implanted fiducial markers proved to be a reliable method to improve precision of stereotactic irradiations of the prostate. It can prevent unacceptable translation deviations in one third of all sessions.

Reducing ExacTrac intrafraction imaging uncertainty for prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy using a pre-treatment CBCT

This study evaluated the intrafractional auto-matching uncertainties of prostate-implanted fiducial markers when using the ExacTrac v6.5 (Brainlab, Feldkirchen, Germany) X-ray stereoscopic system. A customised phantom with 3 implanted gold seeds was initially positioned at the isocentre using a cone beam CT (CBCT) prior to intrafractional imaging. Progressive offsets were applied to the phantom in all six directions (3 translational, 3 rotational) of 0 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 0°, 1° and 2°. Subsequently, the ability of the ExacTrac image-matching functions to detect and correct these offsets was tested. For comparison, this procedure was repeated, but without a CBCT for pre-treatment positioning. The auto-matching uncertainties when a CBCT was introduced into the workflow were significantly reduced, and overall, the auto-matching statistics using the implanted marker (seeds) matching function was found to be more precise than the bony anatomy function in-phantom. The total standard deviations for the translational shifts using the implanted marker and bony anatomy functions respectively were 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm vertically, 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm longitudinally, and 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm laterally. The standard deviations for the rotational shifts using the implanted marker and bony anatomy matching functions respectively were 0.2° and 1.2° for the yaw (angle vert), 0.3° and 1.1° for the pitch (angle long), and 0.2° and 1.2° for the roll (angle lat) directions. The reduced uncertainties from introducing a CBCT for initial localisation resulted in decreased probability of inhibits due to false positives during treatment.

Magnetic resonance image-guided adaptive stereotactic body radiotherapy for prostate cancer: preliminary results of outcome and toxicity

OBJECTIVE

Using moderate or ultra-hypofractionation, which is also known as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for treatment of localized prostate cancer patients has been increased. We present our preliminary results on the clinical utilization of MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgRT) for prostate cancer patients with the workflow, dosimetric parameters, toxicities and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response.

METHODS

50 prostate cancer patients treated with ultra-hypofractionation were included in the study. Treatment was performed with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (step and shoot) technique and daily plan adaptation using MRgRT. The SBRT consisted of 36.25 Gy in 5 fractions with a 7.25 Gy fraction size. The time for workflow steps was documented. Patients were followed for the acute and late toxicities and PSA response.

RESULTS

The median follow-up for our cohort was 10 months (range between 3 and 29 months). The median age was 73.5 years (range between 50 and 84 years). MRgRT was well tolerated by all patients. Acute genitourinary (GU) toxicity rate of Grade 1 and Grade 2 was 28 and 36%, respectively. Only 6% of patients had acute Grade 1 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity and there was no Grade ≥ 2 GI toxicity. To date, late Grade 1 GU toxicity was experienced by 24% of patients, 2% of patients experienced Grade 2 GU toxicity and 6% of patients reported Grade 2 GI toxicity. Due to the short follow-up, PSA nadir has not been reached yet in our cohort.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, MRgRT represents a new method for delivering SBRT with markerless soft tissue visualization, online adaptive planning and real-time tracking. Our study suggests that ultra-hypofractionation has an acceptable acute and very low late toxicity profile.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

MRgRT represents a new markerless method for delivering SBRT for localized prostate cancer providing online adaptive planning and real-time tracking and acute and late toxicity profile is acceptable.

Refinement & validation of rectal wall dose volume objectives for prostate hypofractionation in 20 fractions

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LRB was correlated to irradiation technique and several % rectal wall cut points.

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The predictive role of dosimetric variables relates to the irradiation technique.

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Dose volume objectives for patients treated with IMRT/VMAT are reported.

Background and purpose

Dose-volume objectives for the rectum have been proposed to limit long term toxicity after moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy (MHRT) for localized prostate cancer. The purpose of the present study is to validate and possibly refine dose volume objective for the rectal wall after 20-fraction MHRT.

Materials and methods

All patients treated by 20-fraction MHRT at a single Institution were identified and relative rectal wall (%RW) DVH retrieved. The endpoint of the study is the development of grade 2+ late rectal bleeding (LRB) according to a modified RTOG scale. Clinical and dosimetric predictors of LRB were investigated at both uni- and multi-variable analysis.

Results

293 patients were identified and analyzed. Of them, 35 (12%) developed the endpoint. At univariable analysis, antithrombotic drug usage (yes vs no), technique (3DCRT vs IMRT/VMAT) and several %RW DVH cut-points were significantly correlated with LRB. However, within patients treated by 3DCRT (N = 106), a bi-variable model including anti-thrombotic drug usage and selected %RW dose/volume metrics failed to identify independent dosimetric predictors of LRB. Conversely, within patients treated with intensity modulation (N = 187), the same model showed a progressively higher impact of the percent of RW receiving doses above 40 Gy. Based on this model, we were able to confirm (V32), refine (V60) and identify a novel (V50) cut-point for the %RW.

Conclusion

We recommend the following dose volume objectives for the %RW in order to minimize the risk of LRB after 20-fraction MHRT: V32 ≤ 50%; V50 ≤ 25.8% and V60 ≤ 10%.

Field-map correction in read-out segmented echo planar imaging for reduced spatial distortion in prostate DWI for MRI-guided radiotherapy applications

Diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging (DW-EPI) suffers from geometric distortion due to low phase-encoding bandwidth. Read-out segmented echo planar imaging (RS-EPI) reduces distortion but residual distortion remains in extreme cases. Additional corrections need to be applied, especially for radiotherapy applications where a high degree of accuracy is needed. In this study the use of magnetic field map corrections are assessed in DW-EPI and RS-EPI, to reduce geometric uncertainty for MRI-guided radiotherapy applications. Magnetic field maps were calculated from gradient echo images and distortion corrections were applied to RS-EPI images. Distortions were assessed in a prostate phantom by comparing to the known geometry, and in vivo using a modified Hausdorff distance metric using a T2-weighted spin echo as ground truth. Across 10 patients, field map-corrected RS-EPI reduced maximum distortion by 5 mm on average compared to DW-EPI (σ = 1.9 mm). Geometric distortions were also reduced significantly using field mapping with RS-EPI, compared to RS-EPI alone (p ≤ 0.05). The increased geometric accuracy of these techniques can potentially allow diffusion-weighted images to be fused with other MR or CT images for radiotherapy treatment purposes.

Clinical implementation of magnetic resonance imaging guided adaptive radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer

Background and purpose

Magnetic resonance-guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) has recently become available in clinical practice and is expected to expand significantly in coming years. MRgRT offers marker-less continuous imaging during treatment delivery, use of small clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margins, and finally the option to perform daily plan re-optimization.

Materials and methods

A total of 140 patients (700 fractions) have been treated with MRgRT and online plan adaptation for localized prostate cancer since early 2016. Clinical workflow for MRgRT of prostate cancer consisted of patient selection, simulation on both MR- and computed tomography (CT) scan, inverse intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment planning and daily plan re-optimization prior to treatment delivery with partial organs at risk (OAR) recontouring within the first 2 cm outside the PTV. For each adapted plan online patient-specific quality assurance (QA) was performed by means of a secondary Monte Carlo 3D dose calculation and gamma analysis comparison. Patient experiences with MRgRT were assessed using a patient-reported outcome questionnaire (PRO-Q) after the last fraction.

Results

In 97% of fractions, MRgRT was delivered using the online adapted plan. Intrafractional prostate drifts necessitated 2D-corrections during treatment in approximately 20% of fractions. The average duration of an uneventful fraction of MRgRT was 45 min. PRO-Q’s (N = 89) showed that MRgRT was generally well tolerated, with disturbing noise sensations being most commonly reported.

Conclusions

MRgRT with daily online plan adaptation constitutes an innovative approach for delivering SBRT for prostate cancer and appears to be feasible, although necessitating extended timeslots and logistical challenges.

Dosimetric and volumetric changes in the rectum and bladder in patients receiving CBCT-guided prostate IMRT: analysis based on daily CBCT dose calculation

Delivered dose can be calculated by transferring the planned treatment beams onto the daily CBCT. Bladder and rectum volumetric doses were calculated and correlated to the daily bladder and rectum fullness. Patients for this study underwent hypofractionated prostate IMRT to 70 Gy in 28 fractions. Daily CBCT was utilized for image guidance. A clinically acceptable plan was created using a CTV‐to‐PTV uniform margin of 5 mm. Image fusion was performed to transfer the bladder and rectum contours onto each CBCT. Contours were then edited to match the anatomy of each CBCT. Using the daily treatment isocenter, the planned beams were transferred onto the CBCT and daily and cumulative DVHs calculated. For the results a total of 168 daily CBCTs were evaluated. The bladder was found to be smaller for 74.7% of the 168 daily CBCTs accessed in this study. This reduction in volume correlated to an increase in the cumulative bladder V70 Gy from 9.47% on the planning CT to 10.99% during treatment. V70Gy for the rectum was 7.27% on the planning CT, when all six patients were averaged, and increased to 11.56% on the average of all daily treatment CBCTs. Increases in volumetric rectum dose correlated with increases in rectal volume. For one patient, the rectum and bladder absolute V70 Gy, averaged over the course of treatment, increased by 295% and 61%, respectively. Larger variations in the daily bladder and rectal volume were observed and these correlated to large deviations from the volumetric dose received by these structures. In summary, bladder and rectum volume changes during treatment have an effect on the cumulative dose received by these organs. It was observed that the volumetric dose received by the bladder decreases as the volume of the bladder increases. The inverse was true for the rectum.

PACS number(s): 87.55.dk‐, 87.57.Q‐

Verification of the dose attenuation of a newly developed vacuum cushion for intensity-modulated radiation therapy of prostate cancer

This study measured the dose attenuation of a newly developed vacuum cushion for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) of prostate cancer, and verified the effect of dose-correction accuracy in a radiation treatment planning system (RTPS). The new cushion was filled with polystyrene foams inflated 15-fold (Sφ ≒ 1 mm) to reduce contraction caused by air suction and was compared to normal polystyrene foam inflated to 50-fold (Sφ ≒ 2 mm). The dose attenuation at several thicknesses of compression bag filled with normal and low-inflation materials was measured using an ionization chamber; and then the calculated RTPS dose was compared to ionization chamber measurements, while the new cushion was virtually included as region of interest in the calculation area. The dose attenuation rate of the normal cushion was 0.010 %/mm (R (2) = 0.9958), compared to 0.031 %/mm (R (2) = 0.9960) in the new cushion. Although the dose attenuation rate of the new cushion was three times that of the normal cushion, the high agreement between calculated dose by RTPS and ionization chamber measurements was within approximately 0.005 %/mm. Thus, the results of the current study indicate that the new cushion may be effective in clinical use for dose calculation accuracy in RTPS.

Under conditions of large geometric miss, tumor control probability can be higher for static gantry intensity-modulated radiation therapy compared to volume-modulated arc therapy for prostate cancer

The purpose of this work was to compare static gantry intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in terms of tumor control probability (TCP) under scenarios involving large geometric misses, i.e., those beyond what are accounted for when margin expansion is determined. Using a planning approach typical for these treatments, a linear-quadratic-based model for TCP was used to compare mean TCP values for a population of patients who experiences a geometric miss (i.e., systematic and random shifts of the clinical target volume within the planning target dose distribution). A Monte Carlo approach was used to account for the different biological sensitivities of a population of patients. Interestingly, for errors consisting of coplanar systematic target volume offsets and three-dimensional random offsets, static gantry IMRT appears to offer an advantage over VMAT in that larger shift errors are tolerated for the same mean TCP. For example, under the conditions simulated, erroneous systematic shifts of 15mm directly between or directly into static gantry IMRT fields result in mean TCP values between 96% and 98%, whereas the same errors on VMAT plans result in mean TCP values between 45% and 74%. Random geometric shifts of the target volume were characterized using normal distributions in each Cartesian dimension. When the standard deviations were doubled from those values assumed in the derivation of the treatment margins, our model showed a 7% drop in mean TCP for the static gantry IMRT plans but a 20% drop in TCP for the VMAT plans. Although adding a margin for error to a clinical target volume is perhaps the best approach to account for expected geometric misses, this work suggests that static gantry IMRT may offer a treatment that is more tolerant to geometric miss errors than VMAT.

Planned versus 'delivered' bladder dose reconstructed using solid and hollow organ models during prostate cancer IMRT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

All studies to date have evaluated the dosimetric effect of bladder deformation using an organ model that includes the dose to the urine. This research reconstructed bladder dose using both hollow and solid organ models, to determine if dose/volume differences exist.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

35 prostate IMRT patients were selected, who had received 78Gy in 39 fractions and full bladder instructions. Biomechanical modelling and finite element analysis were used to reconstruct bladder dose (solid and hollow organ model) using every third CBCT throughout the treatment course.

RESULTS

Reconstructed dose (ReconDose) was 11.3Gy greater than planned dose (planDose) with a hollow bladder model (p<0.001) and 12.3Gy greater with a solid bladder model (p<0.0001). Median reconstructed volumes within the 30Gy, 65Gy and 78Gy isodoses were 3-4 times larger with the solid organ model (p<0.0001). The difference between planning bladder volume and median treatment volume was associated with the difference between the planDose and reconDose below 78Gy (R(2)>0.61).

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial differences exist between planned and reconstructed bladder dose, associated with the differences in bladder filling between planning and treatment. Dose reconstructed using a solid bladder model over-reports the volume of bladder within key isodose levels and overestimates the differences between planned and reconstructed dose. Dose reconstruction with a hollow organ model is recommended if the goal is to associate that dose with toxicity.

The effect of body contouring on the dose distribution delivered with volumetric-modulated arc therapy technique

The purpose of the study was to investigate the dosimetric effect defining the body structure with various Hounsfield unit (HU) threshold values on the dose distributions of volumetric‐modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans. Twenty patients with prostate cancer and twenty patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer were retrospectively selected. For each patient, the body structure was redefined with HU threshold values of −180(Body180), −350(Body350), −700(Body700), and −980(Body980). For each patient, dose‐volumetric parameters with those body structures were calculated using identical VMAT plans. The differences in dose‐volumetric parameters due to the varied HU threshold values were calculated. For the prostate boost target volume, the maximum dose, mean dose, D95%, and D5% with Body180 were higher than those with Body980 by approximately 0.7% (p<0.001). For H&N target volumes, the changes in D95% of the targets receiving 67.5 Gy, 54 Gy, and 48 Gy between Body180 and Body980 were −1.2%, −0.9%, and −1.2%, respectively (p<0.001). The differences were larger for H&N VMAT plans than for prostate VMAT plans due to the inclusion of an immobilization device in the irradiated region in H&N cases. To apply all attenuating materials to dose calculation, the body structure would be defined with −980 HU. Otherwise, systematic error of about 1%, resulting in underdosage of the target volume, can occur.

PACS number: 87.55.ne

Significance of image guidance to clinical outcomes for localized prostate cancer

Purpose. To compare toxicity profiles and biochemical tumor control outcomes between patients treated with image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IG-IMRT) and non-IGRT intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for clinically localized prostate cancer. Materials and Methods. Between 2009 and 2012, 65 patients with localized prostate cancer were treated with IG-IMRT. This group of patients was retrospectively compared with a similar cohort of 62 patients who were treated between 2004 and 2009 with IMRT to the same dose without image guidance. Results. The median follow-up time was 4.8 years. The rectal volume receiving ≥40 and ≥70 Gy was significantly lower in the IG-IMRT group. Grade 2 and higher acute and late GI and GU toxicity rates were lower in IG-IMRT group, but there was no statistical difference. No significant improvement in biochemical control at 5 years was observed in two groups. In a Cox regression analysis identifying predictors for PSA relapse-free survival, only preradiotherapy PSA was significantly associated with biochemical control; IG-IMRT was not a statistically significant indicator. Conclusions. The use of image guidance in the radiation of prostate cancer at our institute did not show significant reduction in the rates of GI and GU toxicity and did not improve the biochemical control compared with IMRT.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to prostate and pelvic nodes-is pelvic lymph node coverage adequate with fiducial-based image-guided radiotherapy?

OBJECTIVE

There remains concern regarding the use of fiducial-based image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) in patients with high-risk prostate cancer also undergoing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to pelvic nodes. By a retrospective study, we aim to ascertain the impact of the use of fiducial-based IGRT on lymph node planned target volume (PTV) coverage.

METHODS

30 consecutive IMRT prostate and pelvic node plans were reviewed, and dose was recalculated with 1-mm increment movements in anterior, posterior, superior, inferior, right and left directions up to 10 mm. All patients were treated with a full bladder after drinking 450-750 ml of water and empty rectum with the use of sodium citrate enemas daily. Dose-volume histogram parameters were recorded at each position, specifically nodal PTV V95%, V99% and V100%. A local IGRT database was used to identify the likelihood of a particular bony to fiducial offset in all directions. The combined data were used to calculate the percentage risk of underdosing the lymph node PTV on any given fraction.

RESULTS

The likelihood of an offset in the left, right and anterior directions occurring and resulting in a failure to cover the PTV was <0.25%. The likelihood of a posterior offset occurring and resulting in inadequate coverage was slightly higher but remained <1%.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the safety of fiducial-based image-guided IMRT (IG-IMRT) with a strict bowel and bladder protocol, allowing a reduction of the clinical target volume to PTV margin of the prostate volume and consequent reduction in rectal toxicity.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

This study strengthens the evidence supporting the safe implementation of fiducial-based IG-IMRT treating the prostate and pelvic nodes in high-risk prostate cancer.

Dose escalation using ultra-high dose IMRT in intermediate risk prostate cancer without androgen deprivation therapy: preliminary results of toxicity and biochemical control

Background

To investigate the feasibility of dose escalation (86 Gy at 2 Gy/fraction) with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in intermediate-risk prostate cancer without androgen deprivation therapy.

Methods

Patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate, intermediate prognostic category, were enrolled in this study. Early and late toxicity were scored according to the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Version 3.0. Treatment outcome was stated in terms of biochemical failure, biopsy result and clinical failure.

Results

39 patients with a median follow-up of 71 months were analyzed. No patient experienced G3 or G4 acute gastrointestinal (GI) or genitourinary (GU) toxicity. G2 acute GI and GU toxicity were observed in 17 (44%) and 20 (51%) patients, respectively. Fourteen patients (36%) did not experience acute GI toxicity and 4 patients (10%) did not experience acute GU toxicity. G2 late GI bleeding occurred in 7 of 39 patients (18%). Both G3 and G4 late GI toxicity were seen only in one patient (2.5%). Two patients (5%) experienced G2 late GU toxicity, while G3 late GU toxicity occurred in 3 patients (8%). The 5-year actuarial freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF) was 87%. Thirty-four patients (87%) did not show biochemical relapse. Seventeen patients (44%) underwent biopsy two year after radiotherapy; of these only two were non-negative and both did not show evidence of biochemical disease.

Conclusions

IMRT treatment of patients with localized intermediate-risk prostate cancer at high dose levels without using androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) seems to give good disease control. Nevertheless, future trials should aim at further decreasing toxicity by exploiting image guidance techniques and by reducing the dose delivered at the interface between organs at risk and prostate.

Application of an independent dose calculation software for estimating the impact of inter-fractional setup shifts in Helical Tomotherapy treatments

The purpose of this study is to validate the capability of in-house independent point dose calculation software to be used as a second check for Helical Tomotherapy treatment plans. The software performed its calculations in homogenous conditions (using the Cheese phantom, which is a cylindrical phantom with radius 15 cm and length 18 cm) using a factor-based algorithm. Fifty patients, who were treated for pelvic (10), prostate (14), lung (10), head & neck (12) and brain (4) cancers, were used. Based on the individual patient kVCT images and the pretreatment MVCT images for each treatment fraction, the corresponding daily patient setup shifts in the IEC-X, IEC-Y, and IEC-Z directions were registered. For each patient, the registered fractional setup shifts were grouped into systematic and random shifts. The average systematic dosimetric variations showed small dose deviation for the different cancer types (1.0%-3.0%) compared to the planned dose. Of the fifty patients, only three had percent differences larger than 5%. The average random dosimetric variations showed relatively small dose deviations (0.2%-1.1%) compared to the planned dose. None of the patients had percent differences larger than 5%. By examining the individual fractions of each patient, it is observed that only in 31 out of 1358 fractions the percent differences exceeded the border of 5%. These results indicate that the overall dosimetric impact from systematic and random variations is small and that the software is a capable platform for independent point dose validation for the Helical Tomotherapy modality.

In-phantom dose verification of prostate IMRT and VMAT deliveries using plastic scintillation detectors

The goal of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of using a plastic scintillation detector (PSD) incorporated into a prostate immobilization device to verify doses in vivo delivered during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated-arc therapy (VMAT) for prostate cancer. The treatment plans for both modalities had been developed for a patient undergoing prostate radiation therapy. First, a study was performed to test the dependence, if any, of PSD accuracy on the number and type of calibration conditions. This study included PSD measurements of each treatment plan being delivered under quality assurance (QA) conditions using a rigid QA phantom. PSD results obtained under these conditions were compared to ionization chamber measurements. After an optimal set of calibration factors had been found, the PSD was combined with a commercial endorectal balloon used for rectal distension and prostate immobilization during external beam radiotherapy. This PSD-enhanced endorectal balloon was placed inside of a deformable anthropomorphic phantom designed to simulate male pelvic anatomy. PSD results obtained under these so-called "simulated treatment conditions" were compared to doses calculated by the treatment planning system (TPS). With the PSD still inserted in the pelvic phantom, each plan was delivered once again after applying a shift of 1 cm anterior to the original isocenter to simulate a treatment setup error.The mean total accumulated dose measured using the PSD differed the TPS-calculated doses by less than 1% for both treatment modalities simulated treatment conditions using the pelvic phantom. When the isocenter was shifted, the PSD results differed from the TPS calculations of mean dose by 1.2% (for IMRT) and 10.1% (for VMAT); in both cases, the doses were within the dose range calculated over the detector volume for these regions of steep dose gradient. Our results suggest that the system could benefit prostate cancer patient treatment by providing accurate in vivo dose reports during treatment and verify in real-time whether treatments are being delivered according to the prescribed plan.

Image-guided radiotherapy: has it influenced patient outcomes?

Cancer control and toxicity outcomes are the mainstay of evidence-based medicine in radiation oncology. However, radiotherapy is an intricate therapy involving numerous processes that need to be executed appropriately in order for the therapy to be delivered successfully. The use of image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), referring to imaging occurring in the radiation therapy room with per-patient adjustments, can increase the agreement between the planned and the actual dose delivered. However, the absence of direct evidence regarding the clinical benefit of IGRT has been a criticism. Here, we dissect the role of IGRT in the radiotherapy (RT) process and emphasize its role in improving the quality of the intervention. The literature is reviewed to collect evidence that supports that higher-quality dose delivery enabled by IGRT results in higher clinical control rates, reduced toxicity, and new treatment options for patients that previously were without viable options.

Acute and late toxicity in a randomized trial of conventional versus hypofractionated three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer

PURPOSE

To compare the toxicity between hypofractionation vs. conventional fractionation schedules in patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between January 2003 and December 2007, 168 patients were randomized to receive either hypofractionated (62 Gy in 20 fractions within 5 weeks, 4 fractions/wk) or conventionally fractionated (80 Gy in 40 fractions within 8 weeks) three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy to the prostate and seminal vesicles. All patients had undergone a 9-month course of total androgen deprivation, with radiotherapy starting 2 months after initiation of the total androgen deprivation.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 32 and 35 months in the hypofractionation and conventional fractionation arms, respectively. For the patients developing acute toxicity, no difference between the two fractionation groups was found in either severity or duration of gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicity. Also, no difference was found in the incidence and severity of late gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity between the two treatment schedules, with a 3-year rate of Grade 2 or greater toxicity of 17% and 16% for the hypofractionation arm and 14% and 11% for the conventional fractionation arm, respectively. A statistically significant correlation between acute and late gastrointestinal toxicity was found only in the conventional fractionation group.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the hypofractionation regimen used in our study is safe, with only a slight, nonsignificant increase in tolerable and temporary acute toxicity compared with the conventional fractionation schedule. The severity and frequency of late complications was equivalent between the two treatment groups.

Dosimetric effect of setup motion and target volume margin reduction in pediatric ependymoma

PURPOSE

Quantify the dosimetric effect of inter- and intrafractional motion on intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional (3D) planning via changes in the generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD), predicted tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for pediatric ependymoma.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Twenty patients treated between 1998 and 2002 with a 3D plan (CTV = 1 cm, PTV = 5 mm) were selected. Two IMRT plans were created for the 1 cm CTV (PTV = 5 mm and PTV = 0 mm), and a third IMRT plan for a 5 mm CTV (PTV = 0 mm). Direct simulation with inter- and intrafractional motion was performed for 3D and IMRT plans based on daily pre and post-treatment cone beam CT information obtained from 20 well-matched patients (age, supine/prone, use of GA) on a localization protocol. Calculated TCP, NTCP, Conformity Index (CI), and predictive IQ were compared.

RESULTS

IMRT improved the calculated TCP by 2.8+/-2.8 vs. 3D (p<0.001). Inter- and intrafractional motion results in a TCP loss of 0.4+/-0.7 (p=0.02) and 0.0+/-0.1 (p=0.14) for the IMRT plan with PTV = 0 mm. Mean NTCP for 3D and IMRT with PTV = 5 mm, PTV = 0 mm, and CTV = 5 mm for the cochlea was: 66.6, 29.4, 8.7. Mean NTCP change due to motion was <5%. CI was 0.70+/-0.06 for IMRT and 0.5+/-0.10 for 3D. Predictive IQ was 10.0+/-10.3 points higher for IMRT vs. 3D.

CONCLUSIONS

IMRT improves calculated TCP vs. 3D. Daily localization can allow for a safe reduction in the PTV margin, while maintaining target coverage; reducing the CTV margin can further reduce NTCP and may reduce future side-effects.

Rectal dose variation during the course of image-guided radiation therapy of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To investigate the change in rectal dose during the treatment course for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) of prostate cancer with image-guidance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty prostate cancer patients were recruited for this retrospective study. All patients have been treated with IMRT. For each patient, MR and CT images were fused for target and critical structure delineation. IMRT treatment planning was performed on the simulation CT images. Inter-fractional motion during the course of treatment was corrected using a CT-on-rails system. The rectum was outlined on both the original treatment plan and the subsequent daily CT images from the CT-on-rails by the same investigator. Dose distributions on these daily CT images were recalculated with the isocenter shifts relative to the simulation CT images using the leaf sequences/MUs based on the original treatment plan. The rectal doses from the subsequent daily CTs were compared with the original doses planned on the simulation CT using our clinical acceptance criteria.

RESULTS

Based on 20 patients with 139 daily CT sets, 28% of the subsequent treatment dose distributions did not meet our criterion of V(40) < 35%, and 27% did not meet our criterion of V(65) < 17%. The inter-fractional rectal volume variation is significant for some patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the large inter-fractional variation of the rectal volume, it is more favorable to plan prostate IMRT based on an empty rectum and deliver treatment to patients with an empty rectum. Over 70% of actual treatments showed better rectal doses than our clinical acceptance criteria. A significant fraction (27%) of the actual treatments would benefit from adaptive image-guided radiotherapy based on daily CT images.

Investigation of the dosimetric accuracy of the isocenter shifting method in prostate cancer patients with and without hip prostheses

PURPOSE

The use of image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) enables compensation for prostate movement by shifting the treatment isocenter to track the prostate on a daily basis. Although shifting the isocenter can alter the source to skin distances (SSDs) and the effective depth of the target volume, it is commonly assumed that these changes have a negligible dosimetric effect, and therefore, the number of monitor units delivered is usually not adjusted. However, it is unknown whether or not this assumption is valid for patient with hip prostheses, which frequently contain high density materials.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective study to investigate dosimetric effect of the isocenter shifting method for prostate patients with and without hip prostheses. For each patient, copies of the prostate volume were shifted by up to 1.5 cm from the original position to simulate prostate movement in 0.5 cm increments. Subsequently, 12 plans were created for each patient by creating a copy of the original plan for each prostate position with the isocenter shifted to track the position of the shifted prostate. The dose to the prostate was then recalculated for each plan. For patients with hip prostheses, plans were created both with and without lateral beam angles entering through the prostheses.

RESULTS

Without isocenter shifting to compensate for prostate motion of 1.5 cm, the dose to the 95% of the prostate (D-95%) changed by an average of 30% and by up to 64%. This was reduced to less than 3% with the isocenter shifting method. It was found that for patients with hip prostheses, this technique worked best for treatment plans that avoided beam angles passing through the prostheses.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrated that the isocenter shifting method can accurately deliver dose to the prostate even in patients with hip prostheses.

Modeling of alpha/beta for late rectal toxicity from a randomized phase II study: conventional versus hypofractionated scheme for localized prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Recently, the use of hypo-fractionated treatment schemes for the prostate cancer has been encouraged due to the fact that alpha/beta ratio for prostate cancer should be low. However a major concern on the use of hypofractionation is the late rectal toxicity, it is important to be able to predict the risk of toxicity for alternative treatment schemes, with the best accuracy. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the response of rectum wall to changes in fractionation and to quantify the alpha/beta ratio for late rectal toxicity

METHODS

162 patients with localized prostate cancer, treated with conformal radiotherapy, were enrolled in a phase II randomized trial. The patients were randomly assigned to 80 Gy in 40 fractions over 8 weeks (arm A) or 62 Gy in 20 fractions over 5 weeks (arm B). The median follow-up was 30 months. The late rectal toxicity was evaluated using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scale. It was assumed >or= Grade 2 (G2) toxicity incidence as primary end point. Fit of toxicity incidence by the Lyman-Burman-Kutcher (LKB) model was performed.

RESULTS

The crude incidence of late rectal toxicity >or= G2 was 14% and 12% for the standard arm and the hypofractionated arm, respectively. The crude incidence of late rectal toxicity >or= G2 was 14.0% and 12.3% for the arm A and B, respectively. For the arm A, volumes receiving >or= 50 Gy (V50) and 70 Gy (V70) were 38.3 +/- 7.5% and 23.4 +/- 5.5%; for arm B, V38 and V54 were 40.9 +/- 6.8% and 24.5 +/- 4.4%. An alpha/beta ratio for late rectal toxicity very close to 3 Gy was found.

CONCLUSION

The >or= G2 late toxicities in both arms were comparable, indicating the feasibility of hypofractionated regimes in prostate cancer. An alpha/beta ratio for late rectal toxicity very close to 3 Gy was found.

Assessing prostate, bladder and rectal doses during image guided radiation therapy--need for plan adaptation?

The primary application of Image‐Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) in the treatment of localized prostate cancer has been to assist precise dose delivery to the tumor. With the ability to use in‐room Computed Tomography (CT) imaging modalities, the prostate, bladder and rectum can be imaged before each treatment and the actual doses delivered to these organs can be tracked using anatomy of the day. This study evaluates the dosimetric uncertainties caused by interfraction organ variation during IGRT for 10 patients using kilovoltage cone beam CT (kvCBCT) on the Elekta Synergy system and megavoltage CT (MVCT) on the TomoTherapy Hi·Art System. The actual delivered doses to the prostate, bladder and rectum were based on dose recomputation using CT anatomy of the day. The feasibility of dose calculation accuracy in kvCBCT images from the Elekta Synergy system was investigated using the ComTom phantom. Additionally, low contrast resolution, image uniformity, and spatial resolution between the three imaging modalities of kilovoltage CT (kvCT), kvCBCT and MVCT images, were quantitatively evaluated using the Catphan 600 phantom. The Planned Adaptive software was used on the TomoTherapy Hi·Art system to construct a cumulative Dose Volume Histogram (DVH), incorporating anatomical information provided by the daily MVCT scans. The cumulative DVH was examined to identify large deviation (10% or greater) between the planned and delivered mean doses. The study proposes a framework that applies the cumulative DVH to evaluate and adapt plans that are based on actual delivered doses. Due to the large deviation in CT number (›300 HU) between the kvCBCT images and the kvCT, a direct dose recomputation on the kvCBCT images from the Elekta Synergy system was found to be inaccurate. The maximum deviation to the prostate was only 2.7% in our kvCBCT study, when compared to the daily prescribed dose. However, there was a large daily variation in rectum and bladder doses based on the anatomy of the day. The maximum variation in rectum and bladder volumes receiving the percentage of prescribed dose was 12% and 40%, respectively. We have shown that by using Planned Adaptive software on the TomoTherapy Hi·Art system, plans can be adapted based on the image feedback from daily MVCT scans to allow the actual delivered doses to closely track the original planned doses.

PACS number: 87.53.Tf

Evaluation of Inter-fractional Setup Shifts for Site-specific Helical Tomotherapy Treatments

This paper proposes to summarize and analyze the daily patient setup shifts based on megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) image registration results for Helical TomoTherapy® (HT) treatment. One hundred and fifty-five consecutive treatment plans for a total of 137 patients delivered by the HT unit through one year were collected in this study. The patient data included pelvis (26%), abdomen (23%), lung (21%), head and neck (10%), prostate (8%), and others (12%). All the translational and roll rotational shifts made via auto MVCT and kilovoltage computed tomography (kVCT) image registration were recorded at each fraction. Manual fine-tuning was followed if automatic registration result was not satisfactory. The mean shift ± one standard deviation (1 SD) was calculated for each patient based on the entire treatment course. For each treatment site, the average shift was analyzed as well as displacement in 3D vector. Statistical tests were performed to analyze the relationship of patient-specific, tumor site-specific, and fraction number association with the patient setup shifts. For all the treatment sites, the largest average shift was found in the anterior-posterior direction. The population standard deviations were between 1.2 and 5.6 mm for the X, Y, and Z directions and ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 degrees for the roll rotational correction. The largest standard deviations of the setup reproducibility in X, Y, and Z directions were found in lung patients (4.2 mm), abdomen, lung and spine patients (4.4 mm), and prostate patients (5.6 mm), respectively. The maximum 3D displacement was 10.9 mm for prostate patients' setup. ANOVA tests demonstrated the setup shifts were statistically different between patients even for those that were treated at the same tumor site in the translational directions. No strong correlation between the setup and the fraction number was found. In conclusion, the MVCT guided function in the HT treatment enables us to generate relatively accurate daily setup through registration with KVCT data sets. Our results indicate that lung, prostate, and abdominal patients are more prone to setup uncertainty and should be carefully evaluated.

Investigation into the use of a MOSFET dosimeter as an implantable fiducial marker

It may be possible to use a single device to measure the in vivo dose delivered during radiotherapy, as well as to localize the target volume. This potential, as well as the detectors' ability to relate dosimetry and localization, were evaluated using two implantable MOSFET dosimeters placed inside an acrylic pelvic phantom. A wedged-field photon plan and an eight-field prostate treatment plan were developed. For each plan, conditions were simulated so that detectors were in their correct positions or slightly displaced to represent patient setup error and/or organ motion. Doses measured by the two detectors after irradiation were compared to those calculated by the treatment planning software. Additionally, using localization software and kilovoltage images of each setup, the displacement of the detectors from their correct locations was calculated and compared to the induced physical displacement. For all alignments and detector positions, measured and calculated doses showed an average disagreement of 2.7%. The detectors were easily visualized radiographically and the induced detector displacements were typically recognized by the localization software to within 0.1 cm. The implantable detector functioned well as both an internal dosimeter and as an internal fiducial marker, and thus may be useful as a clinical tool to localize the target volume and verify dose delivery in vivo.

Clinical Implementation of Prostate Image Guided Radiation Therapy: A Prospective Study to Define the Optimal Field of Interest and Image Registration Technique Using Automated X-Ray Volumetric Imaging Software

Alignment of the CBCT with the reference CT is called image registration (IR). The parameters for utilizing the automated Elekta XVI IR software for IGRT of the prostate still remain to be defined. In this study, we compare several automated XVI IR parameters to manual registration to identify the optimal automated IR technique for the prostate gland. 280 prostate IRs were conducted as follows: 210 automated, and 70 manual IR were performed using 70 CBCT scans of seven patients. The three arms of the automated registrations were: (i) extended FOI/Bone + grey scale (double IR); (ii) limited FOI/GS (single IR); and (iii) extended FOI/GS (single IR). Automated IRs were compared to manual IRs; x, y, z shifts, failures, and errors recorded for off-line analysis. Based on the most successful parameters, a departmental protocol was developed and 432 automated IR were performed (on 20 patients) for analysis. Automated IR were classified as: Successful, failed, error, or unregistered. In arm 1, the rate of successful, failed, error, and unregistered IR were 52.8%, 1.5%, 8.6%, 37.1%, respectively, arm 2: 90% successful, 10% failed, arm 3: 100% successful. Using the arm 3 parameters for the 432 automated IRs, the incidence of unregistered scans was 0%, rescanning was required in 1% of treatments, and the time for performing the auto IR was < 5.5 minutes. We found that extended FOI + single (GS) IR results in shifts comparable to manual IR using automated XVI software. We experienced multiple unsuccessful registrations with the other methods. We conclude that when utilizing the Elekta XVI automated IR software, the extended FOI/single IR results in successful registrations most often. In addition, it is currently effectively used in our clinical practice.

Does image-guided radiotherapy improve toxicity profile in whole pelvic-treated high-risk prostate cancer? Comparison between IG-IMRT and IMRT

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of adding image-guided (IG) technique to intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) on dosimetric avoidance of organs at risk (OAR) and acute toxicities.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 25 consecutively treated patients (10 from National University Hospital and 15 from University of California San Francisco) with high-risk prostate cancer formed the study cohort. All received definitive IMRT with prophylactic nodal RT. Similar IMRT contouring and planning techniques were used at both centers. At the University of California, San Francisco, intraprostatic fiducial markers were used for daily pretreatment on-line corrections (IG-IMRT). In contrast, at the National University Hospital, no fiducial markers were used (IMRT). At the University of California, San Francisco, the planning target volume margins to the prostate were 2-3 mm. At the National University Hospital, they were 1 cm circumferentially, except for 0.5 cm posteriorly. The acute rectal and bladder toxicities and dosimetric endpoints to the planning target volume and organs at risk were compared.

RESULTS

The planning target volume dose coverage was not significantly different between IMRT and IG-IMRT for the prostate, seminal vesicles, and lymph nodes. The volume of rectum and bladder receiving >/=40, >/=60, and >/=70 Gy were all significantly less using IG-IMRT (p <0.001). IG-IMRT yielded lower acute Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Grade 2 rectal (80% vs. 13%, p = 0.004) and bladder (60% vs. 13%, p = 0.014) toxicities.

CONCLUSIONS

IG-IMRT, using daily target localization with fiducial markers, permits the use of smaller margins and correspondingly lower doses to the organs at risk, such as the rectum and bladder. These tangible gains appear to translate into lower clinically significant toxicities.

Prostate Planning Treatment Volume Margin Calculation Based on the ExacTrac X-Ray 6D Image-Guided System: Margins for Various Clinical Implementations

PURPOSE

To assess the prostate motion from day-to-day setup, as well as during irradiation time, to calculate planning target volume (PTV) margins. PTV margins differ depending on the clinical implementation of an image-guided system. Three cases were considered in this study: daily bony anatomy match, center of gravity of the implanted marker seeds calculated with a limited number of imaged days, and daily online correction based on implanted marker seeds.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A cohort of 30 nonrandomized patients and 1,330 pairs of stereoscopic kV images have been used to determine the prostate movement. The commercial image guided positioning tool employed was ExacTrac X-Ray 6D (BrainLAB AG, Feldkirchen, Germany).

RESULTS

Planning target volume margins such that a minimum of 95% of the prescribed dose covers the clinical target volume for 90% of the population are presented. PTV margins based on daily bony anatomy match, including intrafraction correction, would be 11.5, 13.5, and 4.5 mm in the anterior-posterior, superior-inferior, and right-left directions, respectively. This margin can be further reduced to 8.1, 8.6, and 4.8 mm (including intrafraction motion) if implanted marker seeds are used. Finally, daily on line correction based on marker seeds would result in the smallest of the studied margins: 4.7, 6.2, and 1.9 mm.

CONCLUSION

Planning target volume margins are dependent on the local clinical use of the image-guided RT system available in any radiotherapy department.

A strategy to correct for intrafraction target translation in conformal prostate radiotherapy: simulation results

A strategy is proposed in which intrafraction internal target translation is corrected for by repositioning the multileaf collimator position aperture to conform to the new target pose in the beam projection, and the beam monitor units are adjusted to account for the change in the geometric relationship between the target and the beam. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dosimetric stability of the prostate and critical structures in the presence of internal target translation using the dynamic compensation strategy. Twenty-five previously treated prostate cancer patients were replanned using a four-field conformal technique to deliver 72 Gy to 95% of the planning target volume (PTV). Internal translation was introduced by displacing the prostate PTV (no rotation or deformation was considered). Thirty-six randomly selected isotropic displacements of magnitude 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 cm were sampled for each patient, for a total of 3600 errors. Due to their anatomic relation to the prostate, the rectum and bladder contours were also moved with the same magnitude and direction as the prostate. The dynamic compensation strategy was used to correct each of these errors by conforming the beam apertures to the new target pose and adjusting the monitor units using inverse-square and off-axis factor corrections. The dynamic compensation strategy plans were then compared to the original treatment plans via dose-volume histogram (DVH) analysis. Changes of more than 5% of the prescription dose (3.6 Gy) were deemed clinically significant. Compared to the original treatment plans, the dynamic compensation strategy produced small discrepancies in isodose distributions and DVH analyses for all structures considered apart from the femoral heads. These differences increased with the magnitude of the internal motion. Coverage of the PTV was excellent: D5, D95, and Dmean were not increased or decreased by more than 5% of the prescription dose for any of the 3600 simulated internal motion shifts. Dose increases for adjacent organs at risk were rare. D33 of the rectum and D20 of the bladder were increased by more than 5% of the prescription dose in 9 and 1 instances of the 3600 sampled internal motion shifts, respectively. Dmean of the right femoral head increased by more than 5% of the prescription dose in 651 (18%) internal motion shifts, predominantly due to the projection of the lateral beams through the femoral head for anterior prostate motion. However, D2 was not increased by more than 5% for any of the internal motion shifts. These data demonstrate the robustness of the proposed dynamic compensation strategy for correction of internal motion in conformal prostate radiotherapy, with minimal deviation from the original treatment plans even for errors exceeding those commonly encountered in the clinic. The compensation strategy could be performed automatically with appropriate enhancements to available delivery software.

Analysis of toxicity in patients with high risk prostate cancer treated with intensity-modulated pelvic radiation therapy and simultaneous integrated dose escalation to prostate area

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To report the treatment-related morbidity in patients with prostate cancer treated with an optimized pelvic intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and simultaneous integrated dose escalation to prostate/prostate bed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between November 2003 and May 2006, 55 patients with localized prostate cancer and >15% risk of lymph node involvement were treated with pelvic IMRT and simultaneous dose escalation to prostate area. Twenty-four patients received a radical radiation therapy program, and the remaining thirty-one patients received a postoperative irradiation as adjuvant treatment or after biochemical or macroscopic local/regional relapse. After a customized immobilization all patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT. On the CT slices CTV1 and CTV2 were delineated. CTV(1) included the prostate and seminal vesicles or prostate bed. CTV(2) consisted of CTV(1) plus pelvic nodes. CTV(1) and CTV(2) were then expanded by 0.5 and 1cm, respectively, to generate the planning target volumes. IMRT treatment plans were generated using commercial inverse planning software. Total doses of 66-80 Gy and 50-59 Gy in 33-40 fractions were prescribed to the prostate area and pelvis, respectively. The worst acute and late rectal, intestinal and GU toxicities during and after treatment were scored according to the EORTC/RTOG scales.

RESULTS

The IMRT dose distribution provided excellent PTV coverage and satisfying sparing of all the organs at risk, with no patient experiencing >grade 2 acute or late toxicities. Patients without acute grade 2 intestinal, rectal, and GU toxicity were 91%, 71%, and 63%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 19 months (interquartile range of 9 to 28 months), late grade 2 toxicity was detected only for rectum, with an actuarial 2-year rate of freedom from G2 rectal bleeding of 92%. (CI 95% 0.83-0.99.)

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic IMRT and simultaneous dose escalation to prostate area is a well-tolerated technique in patients with prostate cancer requiring treatment of pelvic lymph nodes, and seems to be associated with a lower frequency and severity of side effects when compared with conventional techniques reported in other series.

A Study of Image-Guided Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy With Fiducials for Localized Prostate Cancer Including Pelvic Lymph Nodes

PURPOSE

To study the impact on nodal coverage and dose to fixed organs at risk when using daily fiducial localization of the prostate to deliver intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Five patients with prostate cancer in whom prostate and pelvic nodes were irradiated with IMRT were studied. Dose was prescribed such that 95% of the prostate planning target volume (PTV) and 90% of the nodal PTV were covered. Random and systematic prostate displacements in the anterior-posterior, superior-inferior, and left-right directions were simulated to shift the original isocenter of the IMRT plan. The composite dose during the course of treatment was calculated.

RESULTS

Compared with a static setup, simulating random shifts reduced dose by less than 1.5% for nodal hotspot (i.e., dose to 1 cm(3)), by less than 1% for the 90% nodal PTV coverage, and by less than 0.5% for the nodal mean dose. Bowel and femoral head hotspots were reduced by less than 1.5% and 2%, respectively. A 10-mm systematic offset reduced nodal coverage by up to 10%.

CONCLUSION

The use of prostate fiducials for daily localization during IMRT treatment results in negligible changes in dose coverage of pelvic nodes or normal tissue sparing in the absence of a significant systematic offset. This offers a simple and practical solution to the problem of image-guided radiotherapy for prostate cancer when including pelvic nodes.