Peter Manser

An efficient framework for photon Monte Carlo treatment planning

Currently photon Monte Carlo treatment planning (MCTP) for a patient stored in the patient database of a treatment planning system (TPS) can usually only be performed using a cumbersome multi-step procedure where many user interactions are needed. This means automation is needed for usage in clinical routine. In addition, because of the long computing time in MCTP, optimization of the MC calculations is essential. For these purposes a new graphical user interface (GUI)-based photon MC environment has been developed resulting in a very flexible framework. By this means appropriate MC transport methods are assigned to different geometric regions by still benefiting from the features included in the TPS. In order to provide a flexible MC environment, the MC particle transport has been divided into different parts: the source, beam modifiers and the patient. The source part includes the phase-space source, source models and full MC transport through the treatment head. The beam modifier part consists of one module for each beam modifier. To simulate the radiation transport through each individual beam modifier, one out of three full MC transport codes can be selected independently. Additionally, for each beam modifier a simple or an exact geometry can be chosen. Thereby, different complexity levels of radiation transport are applied during the simulation. For the patient dose calculation, two different MC codes are available. A special plug-in in Eclipse providing all necessary information by means of Dicom streams was used to start the developed MC GUI. The implementation of this framework separates the MC transport from the geometry and the modules pass the particles in memory; hence, no files are used as the interface. The implementation is realized for 6 and 15 MV beams of a Varian Clinac 2300 C/D. Several applications demonstrate the usefulness of the framework. Apart from applications dealing with the beam modifiers, two patient cases are shown. Thereby, comparisons are performed between MC calculated dose distributions and those calculated by a pencil beam or the AAA algorithm. Interfacing this flexible and efficient MC environment with Eclipse allows a widespread use for all kinds of investigations from timing and benchmarking studies to clinical patient studies. Additionally, it is possible to add modules keeping the system highly flexible and efficient.

Acute and late toxicity in prostate cancer patients treated by dose escalated intensity modulated radiation therapy and organ tracking

BackgroundTo report acute and late toxicity in prostate cancer patients treated by dose escalated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and organ tracking.MethodsFrom 06/2004 to 12/2005 39 men were treated by 80 Gy IMRT along with organ tracking. Median age was 69 years, risk of recurrence was low 18%, intermediate 21% and high in 61% patients. Hormone therapy (HT) was received by 74% of patients. Toxicity was scored according to the CTC scale version 3.0. Median follow-up (FU) was 29 months.ResultsAcute and maximal late grade 2 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was 3% and 8%, late grade 2 GI toxicity dropped to 0% at the end of FU. No acute or late grade 3 GI toxicity was observed. Grade 2 and 3 pre-treatment genitourinary (GU) morbidity (PGUM) was 20% and 5%. Acute and maximal late grade 2 GU toxicity was 56% and 28% and late grade 2 GU toxicity decreased to 15% of patients at the end of FU. Acute and maximal late grade 3 GU toxicity was 8% and 3%, respectively. Decreased late ≥ grade 2 GU toxicity free survival was associated with higher age (P = .025), absence of HT (P = .016) and higher PGUM (P < .001).DiscussionGI toxicity rates after IMRT and organ tracking are excellent, GU toxicity rates are strongly related to PGUM.

High-Dose (80 Gy) Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy with Daily Image-Guidance as Primary treatment for Localized Prostate Cancer

AbstractPurpose:To report acute and late toxicity in prostate cancer patients treated by high-dose intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with daily image-guidance.Patients and Methods:From 06/2004–03/2008, 102 men were treated with 80 Gy IMRT with daily image-guidance. The risk groups were as follows: low, intermediate, and high risk in 21%, 27%, and 52% of patients, respectively. Hormone therapy was given to 65% of patients. Toxicity was scored according to the CTC scale version 3.0.Results:Median age was 69 years and median follow-up was 39 months (range, 16–61 months). Acute and late grade 2 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity occurred in 2% and 5% of patients, respectively, while acute and late grade 3 GI toxicity was absent. Grade 2 and 3 pretreatment genitourinary (GU) morbidity (PGUM) were 15% and 2%, respectively. Acute grade 2 and 3 GU toxicity were 43% and 5% and late grade 2 and 3 GU toxicity were 21% and 1%, respectively. After multiple Cox regression analysis, PGUM was an independent predictor of decreased late ≥ grade 2 GU toxicity-free survival (hazard ratio = 9.4 (95% confidence interval: 4.1, 22.0), p < 0.001). At the end of follow-up, the incidence of late grade 2 and 3 GU toxicity decreased to 7% and 1%, respectively.Conclusion:GI toxicity rates after IMRT with daily image-guidance were excellent. GU toxicity rates were acceptable and strongly related to PGUM.ZusammenfassungZiel:Beschreibung der Akut- und Spätnebenwirkungen bei Patienten mit Prostatakarzinom, die mit intensitätsmodulierter Hochdosis- Radiotherapie (IMRT) und täglicher Image Guidance behandelt wurden.Patienten und Methodik:Von 06/2004 bis 03/2008 wurden 102 Männer mit 80 Gy IMRT behandelt. Die Zuordnung zu Risikogruppen ergab: niedrig bei 21%, mittelhoch bei 27% und hoch bei 52% der Patienten. Hormontherapie erhielten 65% der Patienten. Die Toxizität wurde anhand der CTC Kriterien Version 3.0 bestimmt.Ergebnisse:Das mediane Alter betrug 69 Jahre und die mediane Nachbeobachtungszeit war 39 Monate (Spannbreite, 16–61 Monate). Akute und späte Grad-2-gastrointestinale (GI) Nebenwirkungen traten in 2% und 5% der Fälle auf; akute oder späte Grad-3-GI Nebenwirkungen wurden nicht beobachtet. Die Grad-2- und -3-urogenitale (GU) Morbidität, welche bereits vor IMRT bestand (PGUM), betrug 15% und 2%. Akute Grad-2- und -3-GU Nebenwirkungen lagen bei 43% und 5% und späte Grad-2- und -3-GU Nebenwirkungen bei 21% und 1%. In der multiplen Cox Regressionsanalyse erwies sich PGUM als unabhängiger Prädiktor für ein verkürztes (spät) ≥ Grad-2-GU nebenwirkungsfreies Überleben (hazard ratio = 9.4 [95% confidence interval: 4.1, 22.0], p < 0.001). Am Ende des Nachbeobachtungszeitraumes sank die Inzidenz von späten Grad-2 und -3-GU Nebenwirkungen auf 7% und 1%.Schlussfolgerung:Die GI Nebenwirkungsrate nach IMRT mit täglicher Image Guidance war exzellent. GU Nebenwirkungsraten waren akzeptabel und standen in engem Zusammenhang den urogenitalen Beschwerden vor Radiotherapie.

Leaf transmission reduction using moving jaws for dynamic MLC IMRT.

The aim of this work is to investigate to what extent it is possible to use the secondary collimator jaws to reduce the transmitted radiation through the multileaf collimator (MLC) during an intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). A method is developed and introduced where the jaws follow the open window of the MLC dynamically (dJAW method). With the aid of three academic cases (Closed MLC, Sliding-gap, and Chair) and two clinical cases (prostate and head and neck) the feasibility of the dJAW method and the influence of this method on the applied dose distributions are investigated. For this purpose the treatment planning system Eclipse and the Research-Toolbox were used as well as measurements within a solid water phantom were performed. The transmitted radiation through the closed MLC leads to an inhomogeneous dose distribution. In this case, the measured dose within a plane perpendicular to the central axis differs up to 40% (referring to the maximum dose within this plane) for 6 and 15 MV. The calculated dose with Eclipse is clearly more homogeneous. For the Sliding-gap case this difference is still up to 9%. Among other things, these differences depend on the depth of the measurement within the solid water phantom and on the application method. In the Chair case, the dose in regions where no dose is desired is locally reduced by up to 50% using the dJAW method instead of the conventional method. The dose inside the chair-shaped region decreased up to 4% if the same number of monitor units (MU) as for the conventional method was applied. The undesired dose in the volume body minus the planning target volume in the clinical cases prostate and head and neck decreased up to 1.8% and 1.5%, while the number of the applied MU increased up to 3.1% and 2.8%, respectively. The new dJAW method has the potential to enhance the optimization of the conventional IMRT to a further step.

Use of EORTC Target Definition Guidelines for Dose-Intensified Salvage Radiation Therapy for Recurrent Prostate Cancer: Results of the Quality Assurance Program of the Randomized Trial SAKK 09/10

PURPOSE Different international target volume delineation guidelines exist and different treatment techniques are available for salvage radiation therapy (RT) for recurrent prostate cancer, but less is known regarding their respective applicability in clinical practice. METHODS AND MATERIALS A randomized phase III trial testing 64 Gy vs 70 Gy salvage RT was accompanied by an intense quality assurance program including a site-specific and study-specific questionnaire and a dummy run (DR). Target volume delineation was performed according to the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer guidelines, and a DR-based treatment plan was established for 70 Gy. Major and minor protocol deviations were noted, interobserver agreement of delineated target contours was assessed, and dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters of different treatment techniques were compared. RESULTS Thirty European centers participated, 43% of which were using 3-dimensional conformal RT (3D-CRT), with the remaining centers using intensity modulated RT (IMRT) or volumetric modulated arc technique (VMAT). The first submitted version of the DR contained major deviations in 21 of 30 (70%) centers, mostly caused by inappropriately defined or lack of prostate bed (PB). All but 5 centers completed the DR successfully with their second submitted version. The interobserver agreement of the PB was moderate and was improved by the DR review, as indicated by an increased κ value (0.59 vs 0.55), mean sensitivity (0.64 vs 0.58), volume of total agreement (3.9 vs 3.3 cm(3)), and decrease in the union volume (79.3 vs 84.2 cm(3)). Rectal and bladder wall DVH parameters of IMRT and VMAT vs 3D-CRT plans were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS The interobserver agreement of PB delineation was moderate but was improved by the DR. Major deviations could be identified for the majority of centers. The DR has improved the acquaintance of the participating centers with the trial protocol.

Monte Carlo implementation, validation, and characterization of a 120 leaf MLC

PURPOSE Recently, the new high definition multileaf collimator (HD120 MLC) was commercialized by Varian Medical Systems providing high resolution in the center section of the treatment field. The aim of this work is to investigate the characteristics of the HD120 MLC using Monte Carlo (MC) methods. METHODS Based on the information of the manufacturer, the HD120 MLC was implemented into the already existing Swiss MC Plan (SMCP). The implementation has been configured by adjusting the physical density and the air gap between adjacent leaves in order to match transmission profile measurements for 6 and 15 MV beams of a Novalis TX. These measurements have been performed in water using gafchromic films and an ionization chamber at an SSD of 95 cm and a depth of 5 cm. The implementation was validated by comparing diamond measured and calculated penumbra values (80%-20%) for different field sizes and water depths. Additionally, measured and calculated dose distributions for a head and neck IMRT case using the DELTA(4) phantom have been compared. The validated HD120 MLC implementation has been used for its physical characterization. For this purpose, phase space (PS) files have been generated below the fully closed multileaf collimator (MLC) of a 40 × 22 cm(2) field size for 6 and 15 MV. The PS files have been analyzed in terms of energy spectra, mean energy, fluence, and energy fluence in the direction perpendicular to the MLC leaves and have been compared with the corresponding data using the well established Varian 80 leaf (MLC80) and Millennium M120 (M120 MLC) MLCs. Additionally, the impact of the tongue and groove design of the MLCs on dose has been characterized. RESULTS Calculated transmission values for the HD120 MLC are 1.25% and 1.34% in the central part of the field for the 6 and 15 MV beam, respectively. The corresponding ionization chamber measurements result in a transmission of 1.20% and 1.35%. Good agreement has been found for the comparison between transmission profiles resulting from MC simulations and film measurements. The simulated and measured values for the penumbra agreed within <0.5 mm for all field sizes, depths, and beam energies, and a good agreement has been found between the measured and the calculated dose distributions for the IMRT case. The total energy spectra are almost identical for the three MLCs. However, the mean energy, fluence and energy fluence are significantly different. Due to the different leaf widths of the MLCs, the shape of these distributions is different, each representing its leave structure. Due to the increase in width from the inner to the outer HD120 MLC leaves, the fluence and energy fluence clearly decrease below the outer leaves. The MLC80 and the M120 MLC resulted in an increase of the fluence and energy fluence compared with those resulted for the HD120 MLC. The dose reduction can exceed 20% compared with the dose of the open field due to the tongue and groove design of the HD120 MLC. CONCLUSIONS The HD120 MLC has been successfully implemented into the SMCP. Comparisons between MC calculations and measurements show very good agreement. The SMCP is now able to calculate accurate dose distributions for treatment plans using the HD120 MLC.

Outcome and patterns of failure after postoperative intensity modulated radiotherapy for locally advanced or high-risk oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundTo determine the outcome and patterns of failure in oral cavity cancer (OCC) patients after postoperative intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with concomitant systemic therapy.MethodsAll patients with locally advanced (AJCC stage III/IV) or high-risk OCC (AJCC stage II) who underwent postoperative IMRT at our institution between December 2006 and July 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoint was locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS). Secondary endpoints included distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), overall survival (OS), acute and late toxicities.ResultsOverall 53 patients were analyzed. Twenty-three patients (43%) underwent concomitant chemotherapy with cisplatin, two patients with carboplatin (4%) and four patients were treated with the monoclonal antibody cetuximab (8%).At a median follow-up of 2.3 (range, 1.1–4.6) years the 3-year LRRFS, DMFS and OS estimates were 79%, 90%, and 73% respectively. Twelve patients experienced a locoregional recurrence. Eight patients, 5 of which had both a flap reconstruction and extracapsular extension (ECE), showed an unusual multifocal pattern of recurrence. Ten locoregional recurrences occurred marginally or outside of the high-risk target volumes. Acute toxicity grades of 2 (27%) and 3 (66%) and late toxicity grades of 2 (34%) and 3 (11%) were observed.ConclusionLRRFS after postoperative IMRT is satisfying and toxicity is acceptable. The majority of locoregional recurrences occurred marginally or outside of the high-risk target volumes. Improvement of high-risk target volume definition especially in patients with flap reconstruction and ECE might transfer into better locoregional control.

Assessment of patient setup errors in IGRT in combination with a six degrees of freedom couch

PURPOSE The range of patient setup errors in six dimensions detected in clinical routine for cranial as well as for extracranial treatments, were analyzed while performing linear accelerator based stereotactic treatments with frameless patient setup systems. Additionally, the need for re-verification of the patient setup for situations where couch rotations are involved was analyzed for patients treated in the cranial region. METHODS AND MATERIALS A total of 2185 initial (i.e. after pre-positioning the patient with the infrared system but before image guidance) patient setup errors (1705 in the cranial and 480 in the extracranial region) obtained by using ExacTrac (BrainLAB AG, Feldkirchen, Germany) were analyzed. Additionally, the patient setup errors as a function of the couch rotation angle were obtained by analyzing 242 setup errors in the cranial region. Before the couch was rotated, the patient setup error was corrected at couch rotation angle 0° with the aid of image guidance and the six degrees of freedom (6DoF) couch. For both situations attainment rates for two different tolerances (tolerance A: ± 0.5mm, ± 0.5°; tolerance B: ± 1.0 mm, ± 1.0°) were calculated. RESULTS The mean (± one standard deviation) initial patient setup errors for the cranial cases were -0.24 ± 1.21°, -0.23 ± 0.91° and -0.03 ± 1.07° for the pitch, roll and couch rotation axes and 0.10 ± 1.17 mm, 0.10 ± 1.62 mm and 0.11 ± 1.29 mm for the lateral, longitudinal and vertical axes, respectively. Attainment rate (all six axes simultaneously) for tolerance A was 0.6% and 13.1% for tolerance B, respectively. For the extracranial cases the corresponding values were -0.21 ± 0.95°, -0.05 ± 1.08° and -0.14 ± 1.02° for the pitch, roll and couch rotation axes and 0.15 ± 1.77 mm, 0.62 ± 1.94 mm and -0.40 ± 2.15 mm for the lateral, longitudinal and vertical axes. Attainment rate (all six axes simultaneously) for tolerance A was 0.0% and 3.1% for tolerance B, respectively. After initial setup correction and rotation of the couch to treatment position a re-correction has to be performed in 77.4% of all cases to fulfill tolerance A and in 15.6% of all cases to fulfill tolerance B. CONCLUSION The analysis of the data shows that all six axes of a 6DoF couch are used extensively for patient setup in clinical routine. In order to fulfill high patient setup accuracies (e.g. for stereotactic treatments), a 6DoF couch is recommended. Moreover, re-verification of the patient setup after rotating the couch is required in clinical routine.

Monte Carlo dose calculation improvements for low energy electron beams using eMC

The electron Monte Carlo (eMC) dose calculation algorithm in Eclipse (Varian Medical Systems) is based on the macro MC method and is able to predict dose distributions for high energy electron beams with high accuracy. However, there are limitations for low energy electron beams. This work aims to improve the accuracy of the dose calculation using eMC for 4 and 6 MeV electron beams of Varian linear accelerators. Improvements implemented into the eMC include (1) improved determination of the initial electron energy spectrum by increased resolution of mono-energetic depth dose curves used during beam configuration; (2) inclusion of all the scrapers of the applicator in the beam model; (3) reduction of the maximum size of the sphere to be selected within the macro MC transport when the energy of the incident electron is below certain thresholds. The impact of these changes in eMC is investigated by comparing calculated dose distributions for 4 and 6 MeV electron beams at source to surface distance (SSD) of 100 and 110 cm with applicators ranging from 6 x 6 to 25 x 25 cm(2) of a Varian Clinac 2300C/D with the corresponding measurements. Dose differences between calculated and measured absolute depth dose curves are reduced from 6% to less than 1.5% for both energies and all applicators considered at SSD of 100 cm. Using the original eMC implementation, absolute dose profiles at depths of 1 cm, d(max) and R50 in water lead to dose differences of up to 8% for applicators larger than 15 x 15 cm(2) at SSD 100 cm. Those differences are now reduced to less than 2% for all dose profiles investigated when the improved version of eMC is used. At SSD of 110 cm the dose difference for the original eMC version is even more pronounced and can be larger than 10%. Those differences are reduced to within 2% or 2 mm with the improved version of eMC. In this work several enhancements were made in the eMC algorithm leading to significant improvements in the accuracy of the dose calculation for 4 and 6 MeV electron beams of Varian linear accelerators.

Generalized eMC implementation for Monte Carlo dose calculation of electron beams from different machine types

The electron Monte Carlo (eMC) dose calculation algorithm available in the Eclipse treatment planning system (Varian Medical Systems) is based on the macro MC method and uses a beam model applicable to Varian linear accelerators. This leads to limitations in accuracy if eMC is applied to non-Varian machines. In this work eMC is generalized to also allow accurate dose calculations for electron beams from Elekta and Siemens accelerators. First, changes made in the previous study to use eMC for low electron beam energies of Varian accelerators are applied. Then, a generalized beam model is developed using a main electron source and a main photon source representing electrons and photons from the scattering foil, respectively, an edge source of electrons, a transmission source of photons and a line source of electrons and photons representing the particles from the scrapers or inserts and head scatter radiation. Regarding the macro MC dose calculation algorithm, the transport code of the secondary particles is improved. The macro MC dose calculations are validated with corresponding dose calculations using EGSnrc in homogeneous and inhomogeneous phantoms. The validation of the generalized eMC is carried out by comparing calculated and measured dose distributions in water for Varian, Elekta and Siemens machines for a variety of beam energies, applicator sizes and SSDs. The comparisons are performed in units of cGy per MU. Overall, a general agreement between calculated and measured dose distributions for all machine types and all combinations of parameters investigated is found to be within 2% or 2 mm. The results of the dose comparisons suggest that the generalized eMC is now suitable to calculate dose distributions for Varian, Elekta and Siemens linear accelerators with sufficient accuracy in the range of the investigated combinations of beam energies, applicator sizes and SSDs.