Comparison of Planning Quality and Efficiency Between Conventional and Knowledge-based Algorithms in Nasopharyngeal...

Area of Science:

• Radiation Oncology
• Medical Physics
• Cancer Treatment

Background:

• Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a standard for precise cancer treatment.
• Current IMRT planning is subjective, leading to variability in plan quality and time.
• A need exists for standardized tools to optimize IMRT plans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficiency and quality of RapidPlan, a knowledge-based algorithm, for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) IMRT planning.
• To compare RapidPlan-assisted IMRT plans against manually generated plans.

Main Methods:

• RapidPlan was trained on 79 NPC IMRT plans.
• Twenty NPC patients underwent IMRT planning with and without RapidPlan.
• Plans were assessed for clinical acceptability, dosimetric quality, and planning time.

Main Results:

• RapidPlan alone produced acceptable plans for 9/20 patients; with manual adjustments, 19/20 were acceptable.
• Target coverage and conformity were similar between manual and RapidPlan plans.
• RapidPlan significantly reduced planning time (64 vs. 295 minutes) and lowered dose to parotid and cochlea, though spinal cord maximum dose increased.

Conclusions:

• RapidPlan enhances IMRT planning efficiency for NPC.
• The algorithm produces clinically acceptable IMRT plans with comparable or improved dosimetric outcomes.
• RapidPlan represents a valuable tool for optimizing NPC IMRT.