[Improvement of dose distribution of esophageal irradiation using the field-within-a-field technique].
The wide radiation field for mediastinal dose distribution should be inhomogeneous with the usual simple opposed beam irradiation. The purpose of this study was to improve the dose distribution of the mediastinum using a conventional planning system with a dose-volume histogram (DVH) and the field-in-field technique. Three-dimensional (3D) dose distribution is obtained in bilateral opposed-field irradiation. An overdose area obtained from the 3D dose distribution is defined and reprojected into the irradiation field. A new reduced field is created by removing the reprojected overdose area. A 3D dose distribution is again obtained and compared with the results from first one. Procedures were repeated until each of the target volumes was within +/-5% of the prescribed dose and the irradiation volume within 107% or less of the prescribed dose. From the DVH analysis, our field-within-a-field technique resulted in a more uniform dose distribution within the conventional planning. The field-within-a-field technique involves many parameters, and an inverse planning algorithm is suitable for computation. However, with our method, the forward planning system is adequate for planning, at least in a relatively straightforward planning system such as bilateral opposed fields therapy.
Iwai
Tsugunori
T
Division of Radiological Technology, Showa University Hospital, Japan.
Okabe
Keigo
K
Kato
Mitsuyoshi
M
Yamato
Hidetada
H
Murakami
Jyunji
J
Nakazawa
Yasuo
Y
D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004947:Esophagus; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*