title: Comparison of interfractional variation in canine head position using palpation and a head-repositioning device.
abstract: Radiation treatment planning is performed on images that do not take variation in patient position into account. To compensate for expected variations in position of the patient, a three-dimensional expansion of the clinical target volume, or set-up margin, is added. Variations in patient position can be decreased through use of an immobilization device, allowing selection of a smaller set-up margin. The objective of this prospective study was comparison of interfractional variation in patient position between set-ups of the canine head region using palpation of bony landmarks and set-ups using a head-repositioning device. Fiducial markers were attached to the skull bones of three research dogs, and the dogs were positioned as for a typical radiation treatment of the head region using both set-up methods. A kilovoltage on-board imager was used to acquire orthogonal images and the difference between the x-, y-, and z-axis coordinates of each fiducial marker relative to the initial reference isocenter was measured. The difference in patient position for each axis coordinate was significantly lower for set-ups using the head-repositioning device than for set-ups using bony landmarks (P < 0.05). Ninety-five percent of the absolute values of the displacement vector differences were < 4.62 mm for set-up using bony landmarks, and < 1.93 mm for set-up using the head-repositioning device. A minimum set-up margin of 5-6 mm is recommended when patient set-up is based on bony landmarks and of 2-3 mm when the head-repositioning device is used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5B4. monique.mayer@usask.ca
authors.forename: Monique N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Waldner
authors.forename: Kirsten M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Elliot
authors.forename: Narinder
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sidhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D010173:Palpation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011187:Posture; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000662:veterinary; D011859:Radiography; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging