Preliminary clinical study on brass compensator-based intensity-modulated radiation therapy

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Radiotherapy Technology

Background:

• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a standard cancer treatment.
• Traditional IMRT often utilizes multileaf collimators (MLCs).
• Developing alternative methods for IMRT delivery is crucial for improving treatment efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of brass compensator-based intensity-modulated radiation therapy (CB-IMRT).
• To assess the clinical applicability of CB-IMRT in routine radiotherapy.
• To compare the efficiency of CB-IMRT with traditional MLC-IMRT.

Main Methods:

• Ten patients with nasopharyngeal, esophageal, or rectal cancer were included.
• Brass compensator thickness was determined using measured transmission coefficients.
• CB-IMRT plans were manufactured using numerical control machines and verified with film dosimetry and gamma analysis.

Main Results:

• Plan validation demonstrated gamma pass rates between 90.2% and 98.2%, meeting clinical requirements.
• CB-IMRT plans showed significantly lower monitor units (MUs) compared to MLC-IMRT.
• The depth of cut for compensator fabrication was accurately computed.

Conclusions:

• CB-IMRT is a feasible technique that meets clinical radiotherapy standards.
• CB-IMRT can be effectively integrated into routine radiotherapy practices.
• The method offers potential advantages in treatment delivery efficiency.