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Po‐Thur Eve General‐02: Set‐up error simulations for head and neck IMRT
Author(s) -
Ploquin N,
Kay I,
RangelBaltazar A,
Lau H,
Dunscombe P,
Baker Tom
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.2244629
Subject(s) - convolution (computer science) , standard deviation , set (abstract data type) , mathematics , range (aeronautics) , head and neck cancer , nuclear medicine , algorithm , computer science , statistics , medicine , radiation therapy , artificial intelligence , radiology , materials science , artificial neural network , composite material , programming language
We have compared four computational methods for quantifying the effect of set‐up error and uncertainty on delivered doses to targets and organs at risk in the IMRT treatment of head and neck cancer. These four methods were direct simulation, simple convolution plus two modified convolution approaches: the corrected convolution and the truncated convolution proposed by our group. Discrepancies of up to 20% in the Equivalent Uniform Dose (EUD) between direct simulation and simple convolution were estimated for the relatively superficial parotid gland at a systematic set‐up error of 6mm standard deviation and a random uncertainty of 2mm standard deviation. Truncated convolution agreed with direct simulation to within 6% for all situations studied. However, of the four methods, only direct simulation can quantify the range of outcomes (EUD) associated with a finite number of courses and fractions. Our results are particularly relevant to the design of dose escalation studies in head and neck cancer.