Optimization approaches to volumetric modulated arc therapy planning.
Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has found widespread clinical application in recent years. A large number of treatment planning studies have evaluated the potential for VMAT for different disease sites based on the currently available commercial implementations of VMAT planning. In contrast, literature on the underlying mathematical optimization methods used in treatment planning is scarce. VMAT planning represents a challenging large scale optimization problem. In contrast to fluence map optimization in intensity-modulated radiotherapy planning for static beams, VMAT planning represents a nonconvex optimization problem. In this paper, the authors review the state-of-the-art in VMAT planning from an algorithmic perspective. Different approaches to VMAT optimization, including arc sequencing methods, extensions of direct aperture optimization, and direct optimization of leaf trajectories are reviewed. Their advantages and limitations are outlined and recommendations for improvements are discussed.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
Jan
J
Unkelbach
Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
Thomas
T
Bortfeld
Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
David
D
Craft
Department of Medical Physics and Department of Radiation Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C DK-8000, Denmark.
Markus
M
Alber
Department of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg D-69120, Germany.
Mark
M
Bangert
RaySearch Laboratories, Stockholm SE-111 34, Sweden.
Rasmus
R
Bokrantz
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.
Danny
D
Chen
Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305.
Ruijiang
R
Li
Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305.
Lei
L
Xing
Department of Research, Elekta, Maryland Heights, Missouri 63043.
Chunhua
C
Men
Joint Department of Physics at The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SM2 5NG, United Kingdom.
Simeon
S
Nill
Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
Dávid
D
Papp
H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332.
Edwin
E
Romeijn
Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67260.
Ehsan
E
Salari
D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated