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A simple model for examining issues in radiotherapy optimization
Author(s) -
Shepard David M.,
Olivera Gustavo,
Angelos Lisa,
Sauer Otto,
Reckwerdt Paul,
Mackie T. Rockwell
Publication year - 1999
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 - 10.1118/1.598615
Subject(s) - pencil (optics) , superposition principle , dosimetry , radiation treatment planning , computer science , beam (structure) , convolution (computer science) , computation , medical physics , physics , mathematics , mathematical optimization , optics , algorithm , radiation therapy , artificial intelligence , nuclear medicine , mathematical analysis , artificial neural network , medicine
Convolution/superposition software has been used to produce a library of photon pencil beam dose matrices. This library of pencil beams is designed to serve as a tool for both education and investigation in the field of radiotherapy optimization. The elegance of this pencil beam model stems from its cylindrical symmetry. Because of the symmetry, the dose distribution for a pencil beam from any arbitrary angle can be determined through a simple rotation of a pre‐computed dose matrix. Rapid dose calculations can thus be performed while maintaining the accuracy of a convolution/superposition based dose computation. The pencil beam data sets have been made publicly available. It is hoped that the data sets will facilitate a comparison of a variety of optimization and delivery approaches. This paper will present a number of studies designed to demonstrate the usefulness of the pencil beam data sets. These studies include an examination of the extent to which a treatment plan can be improved through either an increase in the number of beam angles and/or a decrease in the collimator size. A few insights into the significance of heterogeneity corrections for treatment planning for intensity modulated radiotherapy will also be presented.