Abstract
Purpose
To compare helical tomotherapy (HT) and conventional intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using a variety of dosimetric and radiobiologic indexes in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC).
Patients and methods
A total of 20 patients with LA-NSCLC were enrolled. IMRT plans with 4–6 coplanar beams and HT plans were generated for each patient. Dose distributions and dosimetric indexes for the tumors and critical structures were computed for both plans and compared.
Results
Both modalities created highly conformal plans. They did not differ in the volumes of lung exposed to > 20 Gy of radiation. The average mean lung dose, volume receiving ≥ 30 Gy, and volume receiving ≥ 10 Gy in HT planning were 18.3 Gy, 18.5%, and 57.1%, respectively, compared to 19.4 Gy, 25.4%, and 48.9%, respectively, with IMRT (p = 0.004, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001). The differences between HT and IMRT in lung volume receiving ≥ 10–20 Gy increased significantly as the planning target volume (PTV) increased. For 6 patients who had PTV greater than 700 cm3, IMRT was superior to HT for 5 patients in terms of lung volume receiving ≥ 5–20 Gy. The integral dose to the entire thorax in HT plans was significantly higher than in IMRT plans.
Conclusion
HT gave significantly better control of mean lung dose and volume receiving ≥ 30–40 Gy, whereas IMRT provided better control of the lung volume receiving ≥ 5–15 Gy and the integral dose to entire thorax. In most patients with PTV greater than 700 cm3, IMRT was superior to HT in terms of lung volume receiving ≥ 5–20 Gy. It is therefore advised that caution should be exercised when planning LA-NSCLC using HT.
Zusammenfassung
Ziel
Ziel der Studie ist der Vergleich der helikalen Tomotherapie (HT) mit der konventionellen intensitätsmodulierten Strahlentherapie (IMRT) anhand einer Vielzahl von dosimetrischen und radiobiologischen Messgrößen bei Patienten mit lokal fortgeschrittenem nicht-kleinzelligem Bronchialkarzinom (LA-NSCLC).
Patienten und Methodik
Es wurden 20 Patienten mit LA-NSCLC ausgewählt. Für jeden Patienten wurden IMRT-Pläne mit 4–6 koplanaren Strahlen sowie HT-Pläne erstellt. Die Dosisverteilung und dosimetrische Indizes für die Tumoren und die kritischen Strukturen wurden für beide Planungsverfahren berechnet und miteinander verglichen.
Ergebnisse
Mit beiden Modalitäten wurden hochkonforme Pläne erstellt. Sie unterschieden sich nicht in den Lungenvolumen, die der Strahlung von > 20 Gy ausgesetzt waren. Die durchschnittliche mittlere Lungendosis, die Volumenaufnahme von ≥ 30 Gy und die Volumenaufnahme von ≥ 10 Gy betrugen im HT-Plan jeweils 18,3 Gy, 18,5% und 57,1% im Vergleich zu jeweils 19,4 Gy, 25,4% und 48,9%, mit IMRT (p = 0,004; p < 0,001; p < 0,001). Die Unterschiede zwischen HT und IMRT bei der Lungenvolumenaufnahme von ≥ 10–20 Gy erhöhten sich ebenso wie die Planungszielvolumen (PTV). Bei 6 Patienten mit einem PTV größer als 700 cm3, war in 5 Fällen die IMRT der HT in Bezug auf die Lungenvolumenaufnahme von ≥ 5–20 Gy überlegen. Die integrale Dosis des gesamten Thorax war bei den HT-Plänen signifikant höher als bei den IMRT-Plänen.
Schlussfolgerung
Der HT-Plan ergab eine wesentlich bessere Kontrolle über die mittlere Lungendosis und die Volumenaufnahme von ≥ 30–40 Gy. Mit dem IMRT-Plan konnte hingegen eine bessere Kontrolle über die Lungenvolumenaufnahme von ≥ 5–15 Gy und die integrale Dosis des gesamten Thorax erreicht werden. Bei den meisten Patienten mit PTV über 700 cm3 erzielte die IMRT im Hinblick auf die Lungenvolumenaufnahme von ≥ 5–20 Gy deutlich bessere Resultate als die HT. Es empfiehlt sich, bei der HT-Planung von LA-NSCLC vorsichtig zu sein
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Acknowledgments
We thank Unjin Suh for reviewing the English manuscript and Songyee Han for editing the German text.
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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there are no conflicts of interest.
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Song, C., Pyo, H., Kim, J. et al. Superiority of conventional intensity-modulated radiotherapy over helical tomotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Strahlenther Onkol 188, 901–909 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-012-0159-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-012-0159-3
Keywords
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Helical tomotherapy
- Intensity-modulated radiotherapy
- Radiation pneumonitis
- Radiation dosage