Treatment planning intercomparison for spinal chordomas using intensity-modulated photon radiation therapy (IMRT) and carbon ions.

Abstract

Spinal chordomas cannot be treated with an effective dose using conventional radiation therapy (RT) without exceeding the tolerance dose of the spinal cord while ensuring sufficient target coverage at the same time. In this study we investigate the potential physical advantages of combined photon intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and raster-scanned carbon ion RT over photon IMRT alone. For a representative patient we generated a carbon ion RT plan and a photon IMRT plan. Additionally, combined plans consisting of both carbon ions and photon IMRT were calculated using ratios of 20:40 GyE, 30:30 GyE and 40:20 GyE. The best target coverage was obtained using carbon ions alone. Using a combination of photon IMRT and carbon ions, the target coverage was better than with photon IMRT alone. Due to the applied dose constraints, the sparing of the spinal cord was comparable for all plans. Using carbon ions alone, the non-target tissue volume irradiated to at least 30 GyE/50.4 GyE was reduced by 72%/84% compared to photon IMRT alone. These advantages were evident even with combined techniques. The actually delivered dose distribution is expected to be more dependent on patient misalignment with carbon ions compared with photon IMRT. A combination of carbon ions and photon IMRT might be preferable in order to profit by the physical advantages of carbon ions while ensuring a safe treatment.

• Authors: D Schulz-Ertner, A Nikoghosyan, B Didinger, C P Karger, O Jäkel, M Wannenmacher, J Debus
• Journal: Physics in medicine and biology (Phys Med Biol) Vol. 48 Issue 16 Pg. 2617-31 (Aug 21 2003) ISSN: 0031-9155 [Print] England
• PMID: 12974578 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Validation Study)

Chemical References

• Carbon Radioisotopes

Topics

• Carbon Radioisotopes (therapeutic use)
• Chordoma (diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Photons (therapeutic use)
• Quality Control
• Radiation Injuries (etiology, prevention & control)
• Radiation Protection (methods)
• Radiography
• Radiometry (methods)
• Radiotherapy Dosage
• Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted (methods)
• Radiotherapy, Conformal (adverse effects, methods)
• Relative Biological Effectiveness
• Spinal Cord Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy)