Related Experiment Videos
[Dose-volume histograms for optimization of radiotherapy planning based on the example of esophageal carcinoma]
Purpose:
The tissue tolerance of a small radiation dose to a large tissue volume applied in small fractions is expected to be different from the tolerance of a high dose to a small volume given in large fractions. Corresponding criteria for judgment have to be worked out.
Methods:
Using the example of oesophagus carcinoma, dose-volume histograms for diverse treatment techniques are calculated and judged by means of multiplanar isodose representations.
Results:
The selected treatment plans are ranked with the aid of the dose-volume histograms. We distinguish the tissue inside and outside of the target volume.
Conclusions:
The description of the spatial dose distribution in dependence of the different volumes and the respective fractions of the tumor dose therein with the help of dose-volume histograms brings about a correlation between the physical parameters and the biological effects. In addition one has to bear in mind the consequences of measures that influence the reaction and the side-effects of radiotherapy (e.g. chemotherapy), i.e. the recuperation of the tissues that were irradiated intentionally or inevitably. Taking all that into account it is evident that the dose-volume histograms are a powerful tool for assessing the quality of treatment plans.