title: The integration of DVH-based planning aspects into a convex intensity modulated radiation therapy optimization framework.
abstract: The formulation of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) planning aspects frequently uses the dose-volume histogram (DVH), whereas plan computations often happen in the more desirable convex IMRT optimization framework. Inspired by a recent publication of Zinchenko et al (2008 Phys. Med. Biol. 53 3231-50), this work addresses the integration of DVH-based planning aspects into this framework from a general point of view. It first provides the basic mathematical requirements on the evaluation functions in order to support such an incorporation. Then it introduces the condition number as a description for how precisely DVH-based planning aspects can be reformulated in terms of evaluation functions. Exemplary numerical studies for the generalized equivalent uniform dose and a physical constraint function show the influence of function parameter values and DVH approximation on the condition number. The work concludes by formulating the aspects that should be taken into account for an appropriate integration of DVH-based planning aspects.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Mathematics, Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kratt
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherrer
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D018511:Systems Integration