title: Omni-wedge technique for increased dose homogeneity in head and neck radiotherapy.
abstract: Dose homogeneity in head and neck tumour irradiation is a challenging task for conventional radiotherapy due to large anatomic contour irregularities and tissue heterogeneities in irradiation volumes. We present a simple technique based on the omni-wedge concept which uses superimposed fields, orthogonally wedged, to improve target-volumes homogeneity in head and neck tumour irradiation. The routine implementation of this technique is straightforward and easy to achieve with standard radiotherapy equipment and treatment planning software. Our five-year experience in the clinical implementation of this technique is presented.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Radioterapia, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Praceta Prof. Mota Pinto, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal. filipa@huc.min-saude.pt
authors.forename: F L R
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Vinagre
authors.forename: P C P S
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: P J B M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rachinhas
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*