title: Image-guided-radiotherapy retreatment of spine metastasis: a case report and radiobiological evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present case report describes vertebral metastasis retreatment using kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for setup error correction, in order to improve target irradiation and prevent spinal cord toxicity. We evaluated the feasibility of the second radiation therapy course on the overlapping treatment volume.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient with metastatic kidney cancer, previously treated to the tenth dorsal vertebra with conventional radiation planning (21 Gy; 3 x 7 Gy), underwent retreatment. In order to deliver 30 Gy (15 x 2 Gy) to the target volume with the second irradiation, we evaluated the residual dose that could be received by the spinal cord. We calculated the biologically effective dose according to the linear-quadratic model, using an alpha/beta ratio of 2 Gy. A 3-dimensional conformal plan was generated; CBCT imaging was used to ensure accurate repositioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 15 CBCT scans were performed; the mean setup corrections in the lateral, longitudinal and vertical directions were 3.38 mm (SD 2.09; range, -0.2 mm division by 7.6 mm), 2.13 mm (SD 3.38; range, -5.9 mm divison by 6 mm), and -1.28 mm (SD 2.02; range, -7.1 mm division by 0.3 mm), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Image-guided radiotherapy is an alternative approach for the retreatment of spine tumors; it ensures accurate patient setup correction and high-precision treatment delivery, which are required for target volumes very close to critical structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, Tor Vergata University General Hospital, Rome, Italy. gianluca.ingrosso@libero.it
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ingrosso
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dandrea
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miceli
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benassi
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giudice
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Murro
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicolais
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giubilei
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Marzo
authors.forename: Dahlia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tortorelli
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santoni
mesh_terms: D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011853:Radiobiology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D019233:Retreatment; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome