title: Variations of tumor control and rectum complication probabilities due to random set-up errors during conformal radiation therapy of prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of random set-up errors on tumor control probability (TCP) and rectum complication probability (NTCP) on 3D conformal treatment planning of prostate cancer has been investigated by applying the convolution method originally proposed by Leong (Leong, J. Implementation of random positioning error in computerized radiation treatment planning systems as a result of fractionation. Phys. Med. Biol. 32: 327-334, 1987).
  
  
  METHODS
  The combined influence of the standard deviation of the random shifts probability distribution (sigma) of the dose and of the Beam's-eye-view margin (M) between the clinical target volume (CTV) and the edge of the blocks have been investigated in two patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Random set-up error has been found to decrease TCP (for a typical 70 Gy CTV mean dose) by up to 6% for a 1 cm margin (sigma = 7 mm). When M is equal to or larger than 1.5 cm, no relevant effects on TCP are obtained. Maximum acceptable TCP values (corresponding to a rectum NTCP equal to 5%) have been derived and the dependence on sigma and M has been investigated.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Fisica Sanitaria, Istituto Scientifico H.S. Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ragazzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mangili
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiorino
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolognesi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calandrino
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012007:Rectum / Q000528:radiation effects*