The Effect of Respiratory Motion in Breast Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy: 3D-Printed Dynamic Phantom Study

This study evaluated the dosimetric effect of respiratory motion in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for breast cancer using a three-dimensional (3D)-printed dynamic phantom.

Computed tomography (CT) data from breast cancer patients were used to create a 3D-printed breast phantom. Various types of treatment plans were generated using CT images acquired at the exhalation phase. Different infill densities in the 3D-printed phantom were tested to validate their effect on simulating the average human breast tissue density. Plans were delivered to the 3D-printed dynamic phantom in the exhalation position and free-breathing motion. Dosimetric verification was performed using Gafchromic EBT3 films.

After changing the infill density to obtain Hounsfield Unit values similar to those of human breast tissue, a realistic patient-specific breast phantom was fabricated using a 3D printer at 80% infill density. The gamma passing rates of the dose distribution delivered in the exhalation phase and free-breathing motion were 92% or more. In addition, the dynamic phantom doses with free-breathing motion were directly compared with the static phantom dose in terms of sagittal dose profiles. Gamma passing rates of >93% and 90% were achieved at 3%/3 mm and 3%/2 mm, respectively.

Despite a blurred dose distribution, the dose map of the film measurement with respiratory motion could be delivered without significantly increasing the dose heterogeneity of the tumor bed or loss of target coverage. Our findings demonstrate that the impact of respiration on breast IMRT for whole-breast irradiation was not significant, even in the tumor bed.