title: Analysis of setup uncertainties for extremity sarcoma patients using surface imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Proper positioning of patients with extremity sarcoma tumors can be challenging. A surface imaging technique was utilized to quantify the setup uncertainties for sarcoma patients and to assess whether surface imaging could improve the accuracy of patient positioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pretreatment and posttreatment 3-dimensional (3D) surface images were obtained for 16 patients and 236 treatments. Offline surface registration was performed to quantify interfraction and intrafraction setup errors, and the required planning target volume (PTV) margins were calculated. Setup differences were also assessed using root mean square (RMS) error analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For intrafraction variation, the mean 3D vector shift was 2.1 mm, and the systematic and random errors were 1.3 mm or less. When using a reference surface from the first fraction, the mean interfraction setup variation (3D vector shift) was 7.6 mm. Systematic and random errors were 3-4 mm in each direction. When using a computed tomographic based reference surface, the mean 3D vector shift was 9.5 mm. Systematic and random errors ranged from 3.1 to 7.9 mm. The required PTV margins were 1.0 cm, 1.2 cm, and 1.3 cm in the anterior-posterior, superior-inferior, and lateral directions, respectively. The mean (standard deviation) RMS errors for the uncorrected position were 4.7 mm (1.9 mm) and were reduced to 2.2 mm (0.8 mm) and 1.7 mm (0.8 mm), for 4 degree of freedom (DOF) and 6 DOF surface alignment, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrafraction motion is small. Interfraction motion can exceed typical PTV margins and daily imaging should be utilized to reduce setup variations. Surface imaging may reduce setup errors and is a feasible technique for daily image guidance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: dgierga@partners.org.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Gierga
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Julie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Turcotte
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Long W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Yen-Lin E
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: DeLaney
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed