Skull base meningioma - comparison of intensity-modulated radiotherapy planning techniques using the moduleaf micro-multileaf collimator and helical tomotherapy.

Therapeutic radiotherapy to lesions of the skull base is limited by complex target shapes and their proximity to organs at risk. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using helical tomotherapy may result in improved dose distributions and safer dose escalation. The aim of this study was to compare plan efficacy and efficiency using, linac-based micro-multileaf collimator (mMLC) IMRT and helical tomotherapy. Five cases of skull base meningioma, previously treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (50 Gy/30 fractions) were identified. They were re-planned to a dose of 60 Gy/30 fractions using IMRT with Moduleaf mMLC (2.5 mm) and helical tomotherapy. Plan efficacy was compared using measures of PTV(60) coverage (D(min), D(max), V(90%), V(95%) and V(100%)). Plan efficiency was assessed by comparing estimated beam-on times. The critical structure dose was limited to below predetermined tolerance levels in all cases, with similar doses obtained between techniques. The average PTV(60)D(max), D(min), D(med), D(mean), V(90%), V(95%) and V(100%) across the five cases achieved were as follows: mMLC IMRT: 64.9 Gy, 40.1 Gy, 60 Gy, 59.6 Gy, 95.4%, 88.8% and 69.2%, respectively; helical tomotherapy: 67.2 Gy, 50.3 Gy, 60 Gy, 59.9 Gy, 95.8%, 83.5% and 51.9%, respectively. The average treatment time per fraction was 18.4 min for IMRT with mMLC and 6.7 min for helical tomotherapy. This study shows that safe dose escalation to a dose of 60G y to skull base lesions can be achieved; using either mMLC- or helical tomotherapy-based IMRT. A plan comparison between the two solutions is difficult, but they seem to be similar in efficacy with any small differences being difficult to interpret and of questionable clinical significance. Helical tomotherapy has the advantage of a significantly decreased beam-on time.

Estall V ，Fairfoul J ，Jena R ，Jefferies SJ ，Burton KE ，Burnet NG ... -  《-》

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy plan optimisation for skull base lesions: practical class solutions for dose escalation.

To identify practical intensity-modulated radiotherapy planning solutions when attempting dose escalation in the skull base. Twenty cases of skull base meningioma were re-planned using a variation of beam number (three, five, seven and nine), beam arrangement (coplanar vs non-coplanar) and multileaf collimator (MLC) width (2.5 mm vs 10 mm) to 60 Gy/30 fractions. Plan quality and planning target volume coverage was assessed using planning target volume V(95%), equivalent uniform dose (EUD) and integral dose. Critical structures were maintained below clinical tolerance levels. The 2.5 mm MLC achieved an average improvement in V(95%) by 22.8% (P=0.0003), EUD by 3.7 Gy (P=0.002) and reduced the integral dose by 13.4 Gy (P=0.0001). V(95%) and the integral dose improved with five vs three beams and seven vs five beams, but did not change with nine vs seven beams. There was no effect of beam number on EUD. There was no difference in V(95%) (P=0.54), integral dose (P=0.44) or EUD (P=0.47) for beam arrangement used. Segments per plan increased by a factor of 1.5 with each addition of two beams to a plan, and by a factor of 2.5 for 2.5 mm MLC plans vs 10 mm MLC plans. We present evidence-based planning solutions for skull base intensity-modulated radiotherapy, and show that 2.5 mm MLC and five to seven beams can achieve safe dose escalation up to 60 Gy. This must be balanced with an increase in segmentation, which will increase treatment times.

Estall VJ ，Eaton D ，Burton KE ，Jefferies SJ ，Jena R ，Burnet NG ... -  《-》

Comparison of linac based fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy and tomotherapy treatment plans for skull-base tumors.

Soisson ET ，Tomé WA ，Richards GM ，Mehta MP ... -  《RADIOTHERAPY AND ONCOLOGY》

Treatment plan comparison between helical tomotherapy and MLC-based IMRT using radiobiological measures.

Mavroidis P ，Ferreira BC ，Shi C ，Lind BK ，Papanikolaou N ... -  《PHYSICS IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY》

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) dosimetry of the head and neck: a comparison of treatment plans using linear accelerator-based IMRT and helical tomotherapy.

Sheng K ，Molloy JA ，Read PW 《INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY BIOLOGY PHYSICS》