title: Potential advantages of volumetric arc therapy in head and neck cancer.
abstract: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) uses solid compensators or multileaf collimators to modulate the intensity of radiation in each field, delivering highly conformal dose distributions. This technique allows treating volumes with concave shapes when the target is close to a critical structure. The movement of multileaf collimator under computer control can modulate the dose in 3 main ways: IMRT with static field with segments, IMRT with dynamic delivery, and IMRT rotational therapy. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a novel radiation technique that creates conformal distributions with variable gantry speed, dynamic movements of multileaf collimator, and variations in dose rate. The purpose of this study was to review the basis of VMAT, highlighting the differences with other IMRT techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Malaga.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gomez-Millan Barrachina
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology (Medical Physics Unit), University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Malaga.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jerez Sainz
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology (Medical Physics Unit), University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Malaga.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez Rozos
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology (Medical Physics Unit), University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Malaga.
authors.forename: J Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ramirez Ros
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Malaga.
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Toledo Serrano
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Malaga.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lupiañez Perez
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Malaga.
authors.forename: J Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Medina Carmona
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061214:Patient Safety; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: conformal radiotherapy; head and neck cancer; intensity-modulated radiation therapy; volumetric arc therapy; volumetric arc therapy (VMAT)