Dose optimisation in single plane interstitial brachytherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Brachytherapy dose distributions can be optimised by modulation of source dwell times. In this study dose optimisation in single planar interstitial implants was evaluated in order to quantify the potential benefit in patients.


METHODS
In 14 patients, treated for recurrent rectal and cervical cancer, flexible catheters were sutured intra-operatively to the tumour bed in areas with compromised surgical margin. Both non-optimised, geometrically and graphically optimised CT -based dose plans were made. The overdose index (OI), homogeneity index (HI), conformal index (COIN), minimum target dose, and high dose volumes were evaluated. The dependence of OI, HI, and COIN on target volume and implant regularity was evaluated. In addition, 12 theoretical implant configurations were analyzed.


RESULTS
Geometrical and graphical optimisation improved the dose plans significantly with graphical optimisation being superior. Graphically optimised dose plans showed a significant decrease of 18%+/-9% in high dose volume (p<0.001). HI, COIN, and OI were significantly improved from 0.50+/-0.05 to 0.60+/-0.05, from 0.65+/-0.04 to 0.71+/-0.04, and from 0.19+/-0.03 to 0.15+/-0.03, respectively (p<0.001 for all). Moreover, minimum target dose increased significantly from 71%+/-5% to 80%+/-5% (p<0.001). The improvement in OI and HI obtained by optimisation depended on the regularity of the implant, such that the benefit of optimisation was larger for irregular implants. OI and HI correlated strongly with target volume limiting the usability of these parameters for comparison of dose plans between patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Dwell time optimisation significantly improved the dose distribution regarding homogeneity, conformity, minimum target dose, and size of high dose volumes. Graphical optimisation is fast, reproducible and superior to geometric optimisation.
Tanderup
Kari
K
Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. ktanderup@as.aaa.dk
Hellebust
Taran Paulsen
TP
Honoré
Henriette Benedicte
HB
Nielsen
Søren Kynde
SK
Olsen
Dag Rune
DR
Grau
Cai
C
Lindegaard
Jacob Christian
JC
D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage / Q000592:standards; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery