TY - JOUR
T1 - Beam angle optimization and reduction for intensity-modulated radiation therapy of non-small-cell lung cancers
AU - Liu, H. Helen
AU - Jauregui, Maria
AU - Zhang, Xiaodong
AU - Wang, Xiaochun
AU - Dong, Lei
AU - Mohan, Radhe
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was partially funded by the Cure Foundation Summer Program and National Cancer Institute NCI Grant RO1 CA 74043.
PY - 2006/6/1
Y1 - 2006/6/1
N2 - Purpose: To optimize beam angles and reduce the number of beams used for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods and Materials: An exhaustive search scheme was used to perform beam angle optimization (BAO) for IMRT of NSCLC. This approach involved intercomparison of all possible beam angle combinations and selection of the best angles based on the scores or costs of the objective functions used in the treatment plan optimization. Ten Stage III NSCLC cases were selected to evaluate the BAO algorithm and dosimetry benefits of IMRT-BAO. IMRT plans using five or seven coplanar beams were optimized and compared with those using nine equal-spaced beams. Results of BAO were also compared between plans using different numbers of beams with or without fluence modulation. Results: Each anatomic structure, e.g., tumor or lung, had its own preferred beam angles. Thus, BAO required appropriate balance of competing objective functions. Plans using fewer angles (five or seven beams) could achieve plan quality similar to those using nine equal-spaced beams, however with reduced monitor units and field segments. The number of beams used for the treatment (five vs. seven) and the fluence modulation (open or IMRT beams) did not have a significant impact on the results of the BAO. Conclusions: Use of fewer beams (e.g., five) for lung IMRT could result in acceptable plan quality but improved treatment efficiency. A multiresolution search scheme could be developed for BAO using fewer and nonmodulated beams to reduce the computation cost of BAO.
AB - Purpose: To optimize beam angles and reduce the number of beams used for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods and Materials: An exhaustive search scheme was used to perform beam angle optimization (BAO) for IMRT of NSCLC. This approach involved intercomparison of all possible beam angle combinations and selection of the best angles based on the scores or costs of the objective functions used in the treatment plan optimization. Ten Stage III NSCLC cases were selected to evaluate the BAO algorithm and dosimetry benefits of IMRT-BAO. IMRT plans using five or seven coplanar beams were optimized and compared with those using nine equal-spaced beams. Results of BAO were also compared between plans using different numbers of beams with or without fluence modulation. Results: Each anatomic structure, e.g., tumor or lung, had its own preferred beam angles. Thus, BAO required appropriate balance of competing objective functions. Plans using fewer angles (five or seven beams) could achieve plan quality similar to those using nine equal-spaced beams, however with reduced monitor units and field segments. The number of beams used for the treatment (five vs. seven) and the fluence modulation (open or IMRT beams) did not have a significant impact on the results of the BAO. Conclusions: Use of fewer beams (e.g., five) for lung IMRT could result in acceptable plan quality but improved treatment efficiency. A multiresolution search scheme could be developed for BAO using fewer and nonmodulated beams to reduce the computation cost of BAO.
KW - Beam angle optimization
KW - Intensity-modulated radiation therapy
KW - Lung cancer
KW - Treatment planning optimization
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.01.033
DO - 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.01.033
M3 - Article
C2 - 16690438
AN - SCOPUS:33646240837
SN - 0360-3016
VL - 65
SP - 561
EP - 572
JO - International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
JF - International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
IS - 2
ER -