Related Experiment Videos
Measuring irradiated lung and heart area in breast tangential fields using a simulator-based computerized tomography
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
|January 15, 1995
Summary
Simulator based computerized tomography (SIMCT) accurately measures irradiated lung and heart volumes for tangential breast fields. This aids in identifying patients at risk for treatment toxicity, improving radiotherapy planning.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiotherapy
- Oncology
Background:
- Accurate simulation and planning are crucial for tangential breast radiotherapy.
- Minimizing radiation dose to organs at risk, like the heart and lungs, is essential to reduce toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the utility of a simulator based computerized tomography (SIMCT) system for planning tangential breast radiotherapy fields.
- To assess the ability of SIMCT to quantify irradiated lung and heart volumes.
Main Methods:
- Forty-five patients underwent treatment planning using SIMCT with scans in the treatment position (90-degree arm abduction).
- Software was used to calculate the greatest perpendicular distance (GPD), irradiated lung area, and heart area within tangential fields.
Main Results:
- The mean GPD was 25.40 mm, with 71% of patients having GPDs ≤ 30 mm.
- Mean irradiated lung area was 1780 sq mm (18.0% of total lung).
- Seven patients with left-sided tumors had an average of 1314 sq mm of heart irradiated (11.9% of total heart area).
Conclusions:
- SIMCT facilitates accurate measurement of irradiated lung and heart areas in tangential breast radiotherapy.
- These measurements can help identify patients at risk for lung or heart toxicity.
- Scanning patients in the actual treatment position is a significant advantage of SIMCT.