On-line rapid palliation using helical tomotherapy: a prospective feasibility study.
Rapid delivery of radiation therapy is expected to benefit patients requiring palliation. We investigated the feasibility of employing a helical tomotherapy unit to scan, plan, and deliver a radiation treatment in a single radiation therapy appointment. Eleven patients each had an MVCT scan acquired, a plan created, and delivery completed while the patient was on the treatment couch. Timelines for each step of the process were recorded for each patient, and compared with the conventional process for similar patients. Preliminary results show that patients routinely can be treated within a 1 hour appointment for the first fraction.
MacPherson
Miller
M
The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. mmacpherson@ottawahospital.on.ca
Montgomery
Lynn
L
Fox
Greg
G
Carty
Kathy
K
Gerig
Lee
L
MacRae
Rob
R
Grimard
Laval
L
Clark
Brenda G
BG
Samant
Rajiv
R
D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome