Sparing of the neural stem cell compartment during whole-brain radiation therapy: a dosimetric study using helical tomotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility of dosimetrically sparing the hippocampus and neural stem cell (NSC) compartment during whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).


METHODS
We contoured the brain/brainstem on fused magnetic resonance /computed tomography images as the planning target volume (PTV) in 10 patients, excluding the hippocampus and NSC compartment as organs at risk. PCI and WBRT helical tomotherapy plans were prepared for each patient, with 1.0-cm field width, a pitch of 0.285, and a modulation factor of 2.5. We attempted to maximally spare the hippocampus and NSC compartment while treating the rest of the brain to 30 Gy in 15 fractions (PCI) or 35 Gy in 14 fractions (WBRT) with a V(100) of ≥95%. Plan quality was assessed by calculating mean dose, equivalent uniform dose (EUD), and biologically equivalent dose (BED) for organs at risk and the percent volume of the PTV receiving the prescribed dose of V(100).


RESULTS
In the PCI plans, mean doses/EUD/BED for the hippocampus and NSC compartment were 11.5 Gy/13.1 Gy/15.7 Gy(2) (BED assuming alpha/beta ratio of 2Gy) and 11.5 Gy/13.1 Gy/12.3 Gy(10) (BED assuming alpha/beta ratio of 10Gy), respectively. In the WBRT plans, mean doses/EUD/BED for the hippocampus and NSC compartment were 11.8 Gy/14.8 Gy/16.8 Gy(2) and 11.8 Gy/14.8 Gy/12.8 Gy(10), respectively. The mean V(95) for the rest of the brain (PTV) was 96.9% for both the PCI and WBRT plans. Mean PCI and WBRT treatment times were 15.93 min (range, 14.28 min-17.50 min) and 20.18 min (range, 18.43 min-22.32 min), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
It is dosimetrically feasible to spare the hippocampus and NSC compartment using helical tomotherapy during the administration of whole-brain irradiation.
Marsh
James C
JC
Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. james_marsh@rush.edu
Godbole
Rohit H
RH
Herskovic
Arnold M
AM
Gielda
Benjamin T
BT
Turian
Julius V
JV
D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed