Dosimetric comparison of volumetric modulated arc therapy and linear accelerator-based radiosurgery for the treatment of one to four brain metastases.

The purpose of this study is to compare and evaluate volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and linear accelerator-based radiosurgery (Linac RS) for the treatment of one to four brain metastases. Radiotherapy plans for 10 patients with 1 to 4 brain metastases that were planned and treated using conventional Linac RS were replanned using a mono-isocentric VMAT technique using two to four arcs. The same doses, target volumes and organs at risk (OAR) were used in both plans. The plans were evaluated for target volume coverage, dose conformity, homogeneity and dose to OAR. For VMAT plans, 18/19 brain metastases met acceptable Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) radiosurgery dose coverage, homogeneity and conformity criteria. There was no observed difference between the mean homogeneity indices for VMAT and Linac RS plans. VMAT plans had a lower mean RTOG conformity index compared with the Linac RS plans (1.10 ± 0.06 versus 2.06 ± 1.02). For the OAR, there was no difference in maximal doses to the brain stem, optic chiasm or optic nerves. The volume of normal brain receiving 12 Gy was lower in the VMAT plans (13.3 cm(3) versus 23.1 cm(3) ) compared with the Linac RS plans. The mean total number of monitor units (MUs) was 31.3% less in the VMAT plans (5231.2 MU versus 3593.5 MU). Mono-isocentric VMAT plans using two to four arcs meet RTOG radiosurgery quality criteria in patients with one to four brain metastases, with an improvement in conformity and 12-Gy normal brain volume when compared with patients treated with Linac RS at our institution.

Salkeld AL ，Unicomb K ，Hayden AJ ，Van Tilburg K ，Yau S ，Tiver K ... -  《-》

Dosimetric quality and delivery efficiency of robotic radiosurgery for brain metastases: Comparison with C-arm linear accelerator based plans.

The incidence of brain metastases is increasing and various treatment modalities exist for brain metastases. The aim of this study was to investigate the dosimetric quality and delivery efficiency of robotic radiosurgery (CyberKnife) for multiple brain metastases compared with C-arm linear accelerator (linac) based plans. C-arm linac based plans included intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and non-coplanar VMAT with 1, 3 and 5 non-coplanar arcs, respectively (NC1, NC3 and NC5). For 20 patients, six plans with a prescription dose of 30 Gy in three fractions were generated. The gradient index (GI), conformity index (CI), maximum dose (Dmax ) of organs at risk (OARs), normal brain tissue volume (V3 Gy -V24 Gy ), monitor units (MUs) and beam on time (BT) were evaluated. The GI of CyberKnife plans (3.60 ± 0.70) was lower than IMRT (6.21 ± 2.26, P < 0.05), VMAT (6.04 ± 1.93, P < 0.05), NC1 (5.16 ± 1.71, P < 0.05), NC3 (5.02 ± 1.59, P < 0.05) and NC5 (5.03 ± 1.72, P < 0.05). The CI of the VMAT plans (both coplanar and non-coplanar) was larger than IMRT and CK plans. The Dmax for most OARs of the CyberKnife plan was lower than the C-arm linac based plans, although some differences were not statistically significant. The normal brain tissue volume of CyberKnife plan was lower than the C-arm linac based plans, and the normal brain tissue volume of non-coplanar VMAT plans was lower than IMRT and VMAT plans at high-moderate dose level. However, the MUs and BT of CyberKnife plans was more than C-arm linac based plans. CyberKnife plan was better than C-arm linac based plans in protecting normal brain tissue and OARs for patients with multiple brain metastases. C-arm linac based plan with non-coplanar arc provided better protection of normal brain tissue than coplanar plan. However, the BT of CyberKnife plan was longer than C-arm linac based plans.

Zhang S ，Yang R ，Wang X 《Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics》

Evaluation of volumetric modulated arc therapy for cranial radiosurgery using multiple noncoplanar arcs.

Audet C ，Poffenbarger BA ，Chang P ，Jackson PS ，Lundahl RE ，Ryu SI ，Ray GR ... -  《MEDICAL PHYSICS》

Linac-based VMAT radiosurgery for multiple brain lesions: comparison between a conventional multi-isocenter approach and a new dedicated mono-isocenter technique.

Ruggieri R ，Naccarato S ，Mazzola R ，Ricchetti F ，Corradini S ，Fiorentino A ，Alongi F ... -  《Radiation Oncology》

Feasibility of single-isocenter volumetric modulated arc radiosurgery for treatment of multiple brain metastases.

Clark GM ，Popple RA ，Young PE ，Fiveash JB ... -  《-》