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Experimental validation of dose distributions predicted by a treatment planning system for complex models
1Department of Physics, Vancouver Island Cancer Centre, Victoria, B.C., Canada.
Summary
Radiation therapy dose escalation requires non-coplanar beams. Treatment planning software accurately predicts dose distributions for large inhomogeneities but requires further validation for smaller ones.
Area of Science:
- Radiation Oncology
- Medical Physics
- Radiotherapy Treatment Planning
Background:
- Increasing radiation therapy doses necessitates advanced beam arrangements like non-coplanar beams to spare healthy tissues.
- Accurate prediction of radiation dose distributions by treatment planning software is crucial for clinical implementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the accuracy of the G.E. Target treatment planning software for predicting non-coplanar beam dose distributions.
- To compare predicted dose distributions with measurements using Kodak XV film in tissue-equivalent phantoms.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Kodak XV film for relative dose measurements in various tissue-equivalent phantoms.
- Compared film measurements with dose distributions generated by the G.E. Target treatment planning software.
- Evaluated predictions for both coplanar and non-coplanar beam arrangements.
Main Results:
- The G.E. Target software accurately predicts isodose distributions for coplanar and non-coplanar beams with large, semi-infinite inhomogeneities.
- The software's accuracy is sufficient to support its clinical use for such scenarios.
- Potential inaccuracies were identified in dose distribution predictions around smaller inhomogeneous inclusions.
Conclusions:
- The G.E. Target treatment planning software is suitable for clinical implementation for non-coplanar radiation therapy planning involving large inhomogeneities.
- Further investigation is needed to address the software's predictive accuracy for smaller inhomogeneous inclusions in treatment planning.