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Benchmarking the mARC performance - treatment time and dosimetric linearity.
Yvonne Dzierma1, Frank Nuesken1, Norbert Licht1
1Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Kirrberger Straße Gebäude 6.5, 66421 Homburg/Saar.
Zeitschrift Fur Medizinische Physik
|March 8, 2016
Summary
This study defines the technical limits of the helical RapidArc (mARC) technique, finding that treatment times can be as short as 90 seconds. These findings offer a benchmark for optimizing mARC treatment planning and evaluating treatment planning systems.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- The helical RapidArc (mARC) technique is a hybrid rotational intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) modality.
- Its operational speed relative to other techniques like VMAT is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the technical operational limits of mARC treatment.
- To define achievable treatment times and identify factors influencing them.
Main Methods:
- Scenarios varied arclet number (18-45), energy (flat, FFF), arclet width (2°, 4°), and monitor units (MU) per arclet (1-1000).
- Treatment times were measured, and dose linearity was assessed via point dose measurements.
Main Results:
- Minimum treatment times ranged from 1 to 1.5 minutes based on arclet number.
- MLC movement added approximately 45 seconds to realistic plans.
- Dose rate selection rules were partly elucidated; FFF 7 MV reduced dose rate for low MU arclets to ensure a minimum irradiation time of 0.3s, with linearity deviations below 2% except for 1 MU/arclet.
Conclusions:
- Treatment times as low as 90 seconds are technically feasible with mARC using FFF beams and up to 36 arclets.
- These times are comparable to VMAT treatment times.
- The study provides reference values for mARC plan design and performance evaluation.
