title: Simultaneous Integrated Boost (SIB): RapidArc and Tomotherapy Plan Comparison for Unilateral and Bilateral Neck Irradiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to compare simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) plans using volumetric modulated arc therapy (RapidArc®; RA) or tomotherapy (TT) for bilateral (BL) and unilateral (UL) treatment in head-and-neck cancer (HNC) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen computed tomography scans (CTs) of 16 patients with SIB were replanned using TT and RA. We defined three groups: All, UL and BL, compared the dose distributions, homogeneity, conformity to planning target volume (PTV), organs at risk (OAR) and healthy tissue (HT) sparing. We evaluated a therapeutic-width index (TWI) based on PTV coverage and parotid gland (PG) sparing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PTV coverage for RA and TT was equivalent for all groups. UL irradiation resulted in similar doses to the HT for both techniques but TT achieved better sparing of spinal cord, larynx and contralateral PGs. TT provided better homogeneity. RA gave better conformity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both methods achieved clinically acceptable results for UL and BL treatment, RA with better dose conformity to elective PTV, TT with better OAR sparing and homogeneity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany carmen.stromberger@charite.de.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stromberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wlodarczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marnitz
authors.affiliation: Praxis für Strahlentherapie, Klinikum Frankfurt Oder, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Basil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Budach
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan-Dirk
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Raguse
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boettcher
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Badakhshi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Head and neck cancer; dosimetric comparison; helical IMRT; unilateral neck; volumetric arc techniques