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Adding another dimension to plan evaluation: visualising the dose–volume histogram band in head and neck radiotherapy and exploring its utility

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 April 2017

S. Samanta ,
S. Balukrishna ,
K.M. Rafic ,
B.S. Timothy Peace ,
I.R.R. Singh  and
S.P. Pavamani
S. Samanta
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr Ida B Scudder Cancer Center, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
S. Balukrishna*
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr Ida B Scudder Cancer Center, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
K.M. Rafic
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr Ida B Scudder Cancer Center, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
B.S. Timothy Peace
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr Ida B Scudder Cancer Center, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
I.R.R. Singh
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr Ida B Scudder Cancer Center, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
S.P. Pavamani
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr Ida B Scudder Cancer Center, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
*
Correspondence to: Balu Krishna Sasidharan, Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr Ida B Scudder Cancer Center, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632004, Tamil Nadu, India. Tel: +91 96 2626 2296. Fax: +91 41 6228 2035. E-mail: balunair@cmcvellore.ac.in
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Abstract

Background

To introduce a method to generate a ‘dose–volume histogram (DVH) band’ for plan evaluation of photon therapy and explore its various potentials.

Materials and methods

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans for head and neck cancer patients were analysed, retrospectively, for setup errors noted during treatment. From the maximum observed random errors, absolute displacement was calculated using Euclidian formula. The original plan with same beam parameters and leaf sequence were used to generate six plans with shifts applied in three axes in six directions. The DVH curves from these six plans were superimposed to form the DVH band. Plans were reviewed with set tolerance criteria.

Results

Method to generate and visualise DVH band was developed. DVH bands were created for 20 patients with head and neck cancer who underwent treatment with IMRT. It was found that seven out these 20 plans were rejected as they crossed the set tolerance criteria using DVH band as an evaluation tool.

Conclusions

DVH band in photon therapy can help the clinician visualise the impact of setup errors at planning and may help select the plan with lesser influence of setup errors over another.

Keywords

DVH bandhead and neck cancerphoton therapy
Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , December 2017 , pp. 403 - 408
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2017 

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