Effect of Body Mass Factors on Setup Displacement in Gynecologic Tumors and Subsequent Effect on PTV Margins

This study aimed to analyze the effect of body mass factors (BMFs) on setup errors in gynecologic tumors, and whether the planned tumor volumes (PTVs) are adequate for obese patients.

This was a retrospective study of 46 consecutive female patients with gynecologic tumors who were treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy. Setup accuracy was verified using daily cone beam computed tomography. Accuracy was determined for each fraction by testing 2 different PTVs (cutoff I = ≤0.7 cm; cutoff II = ≤1.0 cm). A pooled analysis was conducted to test the association between accuracy levels (within vs beyond PTV) and the mean and variance of body mass index (BMI), umbilical (UC), and hip circumference (HC). A receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was carried out to test the sensitivity of BMI, UC, and HC in predicting inaccurate setup.

A significant association between BMFs and level of accuracy was observed in the lateral and vertical directions, but not in the longitudinal direction. In the lateral direction, inaccurate setups were associated with a greater BMI (mean difference: ∼3.50 kg/m²; P = .001), UC (∼10 cm), and HC (∼8 cm) compared with accurate setups (P < .001). With respect to the vertical direction, inaccurate setups (>0.7 cm margin [cutoff I]) were associated with a greater BMI (mean difference = 7.4 kg/m²; P = .001), UC (5.3 cm; P < .001), and HC (16.0 cm; P < .001) with reference to accurate setups. The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis showed that a BMI >31.4 kg/m² was predictive for inaccurate setup in the vertical direction with 90.0% sensitivity with respect to cutoff I. Furthermore, a BMI >30.3 kg/m² was predictive for inaccurate setup in the lateral direction with 92.5% sensitivity with respect to cutoff II.

The accuracy of radiation therapy setups for gynecologic tumors is highly sensitive to patients' BMI, notably in the lateral and vertical directions. We suggest that daily cone beam computed tomography should be applied on patients with a BMI >30.3 kg/m², using customized protocols that are lower in dose and comparable in image quality.