Iranian Journal of Medical Physics

Iranian Journal of Medical Physics

A Dosimetric Comparison of Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy to Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Rectal Carcinoma

Document Type : Original Paper

Authors
Eman Eldebawy 1
Yasser Rashed 2
Mashaal AlKhaldi 3
Emma Day 4
1 Consultant of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
2 Assistant Professor of medical physics, Faculty of Medicine, Menofiya University, Egypt Consultant of radiation oncology Physics, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
3 Medical Physicist (Radiation Oncology Physics),Radiation Oncology Department, Medical Physics Unit, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
4 Radiation Therapist,King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
10.22038/ijmp.2019.42941.1652
Abstract
Introduction: The study was conducted to compare volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).
Material and Methods: Ten computed tomography (CT) scans were selected and for each CT scan, two plans were calculated (IMRT and VMAT). The average cumulative dose-volume histograms of VMAT plans for the planning target volumes (PTVs), organs at risk (OARs), and normal tissues were calculated and compared with those reported for the corresponding IMRT technique.
Results: Target coverage was equivalent for both techniques. For primary PTV, the average homogeneity index (HI) of IMRT was significantly lower than the VMAT plans (0.10±0.04 vs. 0.11±0.03; p <0.0001). The average conformity index (CI) values for IMRT and VMAT were 1.21 and 1.12, respectively, with a nonsignificant trend for better results with VMAT (p =0.1). For the PTV boost, there was a nonsignificant trend for better results with VMAT in average HI and CI. The VMAT was superior to IMRT in OAR sparing. For monitor units (MUs), VMAT plans required 70% less MUs than IMRT.
Conclusion: For LARC patients, VMAT was able to deliver treatment plans dosimetrically equivalent to IMRT in terms of PTV coverage. The VMAT provided better OAR sparing and significant reduction of MUs in comparison to IMRT.
Keywords
Rectal Cancer
VMAT
Intensity Modulated Dosimetry
Comparison
Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Medical Physics
Volume 17, Issue 6
November and December 2020
Pages 374-379

  • Receive Date 14 September 2019
  • Revise Date 04 December 2019
  • Accept Date 12 December 2019