Dosimetric Comparison of Sequential Versus Simultaneous-integrated Boost in Early-stage Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Breast-conserving Surgery

Abstract

Background/Aim: To compare simultaneous-integrated boost (SIB) versus sequential-boost (SB) delivered in the context of whole-breast irradiation (WBI) via volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and helical-tomotherapy (HT). Materials and Methods: Planning target-volume (PTV) dosimetric parameters and organs at risk (OAR) were analyzed for SB plan (50 Gy plus 16 Gy boost) and SIB plan (50.4 Gy WBI and 64.4 Gy tumor bed boost) in VMAT and HT techniques. Results: Conformity and homogeneity for target-volume doses were better in HT plans compared to VMAT plans. There were no significant differences in ipsilateral lung doses between VMAT and HT plans for SB/SIB techniques, except for a significantly higher lung V5 value with VMAT-SB, and lung V13 value with HT-SIB technique. HT provided a statistically significant decrease in contralateral lung mean V5. Conclusion: The SIB technique showed better target-volume dose distribution in both HT and VMAT plans, and better sparing heart in HT compared to the SB technique.