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What is the optimum breast plan: a study based on the START trial plans
K Venables1, E A Miles, E G A Aird
1Marie Curie Research Wing, Mount Vernon Hospital, Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2RN, UK.
The British Journal of Radiology
|August 31, 2006
Summary
This study analyzed over 1400 radiotherapy plans for breast cancer patients in the UK. Most plans met dose gradient requirements, demonstrating effective quality assurance in radiotherapy delivery.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Oncology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Thousands of UK women receive radiotherapy for breast cancer annually.
- Medial and lateral tangential fields are the predominant treatment technique.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate radiotherapy treatment plans submitted to the START trial quality assurance (QA) team.
- To investigate inter-departmental variations in radiotherapy planning and delivery.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of over 1400 hardcopy radiotherapy dose distributions from 36 UK centers.
- Measurement of physical parameters (breast size, lung depth) and delivery parameters (beam energy, field size, wedge angle).
Main Results:
- Mean patient separation: 19.7 cm; mean lung depth: 1.5 cm.
- Modal beam energy: 6 MV; mean wedge angle: 23 degrees.
- 90% of plans met the trial's maximum dose gradient protocol (10% on central axis).
Conclusions:
- Significant variations in wedge angle selection were observed between departments.
- The majority of analyzed radiotherapy plans adhered to quality assurance standards for breast cancer treatment.
