title: Simultaneous infield boost with helical tomotherapy for patients with 1 to 3 brain metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to model the feasibility of a simultaneous in field boost (SIB) to individual brain metastases during a course of whole brain radiotherapy (WBXRT) using helical tomotherapy (HT) intensity-modulated radiation therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Planning computed tomography data from 14 patients with 1 to 3 brain metastases were used to model an intralesional SIB delivery that yielded a total intralesional dose of 60 Gy with a surrounding whole brain dose of 30 Gy (designed to be isoeffective to WBXRT of 30 Gy with an 18 Gy in 1 fraction radiosurgery boost). Accuracy of treatment of a phantom on the HT unit was measured. Comparisons of HT delivery versus a conventional stereotactic radiotherapy technique for a particularly challenging simulated anatomy were made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all cases, SIB to 60 Gy with WBXRT to 30 Gy was possible while maintaining critical structures below assigned dose limits. Estimated radiation delivery time for the SIB treatment was approximately 10 minutes per fraction. Planning and treatment of the head phantom was associated with an overall accuracy of 2 mm. Comparison to conventional noncoplanar arc fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy plan demonstrated similar target coverage and improved critical tissue sparing even for a challenging anatomy with multiple lesions in the same plane as the optic apparatus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on this study, use of an image guided SIB using HT seemed feasible and a phase I trial initiated at our institution is described. Potential advantages of this approach include frameless stereotaxis through daily megavoltage computed tomography localization, more efficient use of resources and exploitation of radiobiologic advantages of fractionation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Western Ontario and London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario. Glenn.bauman@lhsc.on.ca
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.forename: Slav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yartsev
authors.forename: Barb
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kron
authors.forename: Normand
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laperriere
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heydarian
authors.forename: Jake
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: VanDyk
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed