title: A template for forward planning in prostate cancer treatment: conformal irradiation with segmental intensity-modulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has proven to be effective in radiation therapy of the prostate, but difficulties in quality assurance (QA) and prolonged planning time are considered problems. We proposed a template for prostate irradiation using conventional treatment fields.
  
  
  METHODS
  To establish a general treatment method, we used computed tomography scan studies of 50 male patients with various diseases as anatomic references for planning. Ten ports were used for irradiation. Each port was set to the same weight and at the same angle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plans for all cases were generated easily, and dose distributions showed uniform properties. Dose volume histogram (DVHs) of all the plans gave an approximated distribution. The results showed hardly any influenced due to body shape or the prostate size. The average dose in the planning target volume (PTV) was very close to the prescribed dose (75Gy), and the average normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) of the rectum was 1.61.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although direct comparison with IMRT is difficult, the treatment plan obtained using this method is not inferior to those obtained using conventional IMRT plans. Moreover, it is useful as a standard in the comparison of various treatment plans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Takaoka City Hospital, Takaoka, Toyama, Japan. sakae_taira@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Sakae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hizume
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Note
authors.forename: Jyunichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Okita
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed