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Title: Is Adaptive Treatment Planning Required for Stereotactic Radiotherapy of Stage I Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer?

Journal Article · · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics
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  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Purpose: Changes in position or size of target volumes have been observed during radiotherapy for lung cancer. The need for adaptive treatment planning during stereotactic radiotherapy of Stage I tumors was retrospectively analyzed using repeat four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans. Methods and Materials: A planning study was performed for 60 tumors in 59 patients using 4DCT scans repeated after two or more treatment fractions. Planning target volumes (PTV) encompassed all tumor mobility, and dose distributions from the initial plan were projected onto PTVs derived from the repeat 4DCT. A dosimetric and volumetric analysis was performed. Results: The repeat 4DCT scans were performed at a mean of 6.6 days (range, 2-12 days) after the first fraction of stereotactic radiotherapy. In 25% of cases the repeat PTV was larger, but the difference exceeded 1 mL in 5 patients only. The mean 3D displacement between the center of mass of both PTVs was 2.0 mm. The initial 80% prescription isodose ensured a mean coverage of 98% of repeat PTVs, and this isodose fully encompassed the repeat internal target volumes in all but 1 tumor. 'Inadequate' coverage in the latter was caused by a new area of atelectasis adjacent to the tumor on the repeat 4DCT. Conclusions: Limited 'time trends' were observed in PTVs generated by repeated uncoached 4DCT scans, and the dosimetric consequences proved to be minimal. Treatment based only on the initial PTV would not have resulted in major tumor underdosage, indicating that adaptive treatment planning is of limited value for fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy.

OSTI ID:
20951579
Journal Information:
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 67, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.11.018; PII: S0360-3016(06)03509-7; Copyright (c) 2007 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0360-3016
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English