title: Comparison of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional conformal treatment plans in gastric cancer radiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative chemoradiotherapy is accepted as standard treatment for stage IB-IV, M0 gastric cancer. Radiotherapy (RT) planning of gastric cancer is important because of the low radiation tolerance of surrounding critical organs. The purpose of this study was to compare the dosimetric aspects of 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) treatment plans, with the twin aims of evaluating the adequacy of 2D planning fields on coverage of planning target volume (PTV) and 3D conformal plans for both covering PTV and reducing the normal tissue doses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with stage II-IV gastric adenocarcinoma were treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy using 3DRT. For each patient, a second 2D treatment plan was generated. The two techniques were compared for target volume coverage and dose to normal tissues using dose volume histogram (DVH) analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  3DRT provides more adequate coverage of the target volume. Comparative DVHs for the left kidney and spinal cord demonstrate lower radiation doses with the 3D technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3DRT produced better dose distributions and reduced radiation doses to left kidney and spinal cord compared to the 2D technique. For this reason it can be predicted that 3DRT will result in better tumor control and less normal tissue complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Manisa State Hospital, Manisa, Turkey E-mail : yaseminadas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yasemin Guzle
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Adas
authors.forename: Meltem Nalca
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Andrieu
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hicsonmez
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atakul
authors.forename: Bahar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dirican
authors.forename: Caner
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.forename: Sercan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akyurek
authors.forename: Saban Cakir
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gokce
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ergocen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D058958:Organs at Risk; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil