A Collimator Setting Optimization Algorithm for Dual-arc Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy in Pancreas Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
Purpose: To develop an automatic collimator setting optimization algorithm to improve dosimetric quality of pancreas Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) plans for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT).
Methods: Fifty-five pancreas SBRT cases were retrospectively studied. Different from the conventional practice of initializing collimator settings manually, the proposed algorithm simultaneously optimizes the collimator angles and jaw positions which are customized to the patient geometry. This algorithm includes two key steps: an iterative optimization algorithm via simulated annealing that generates a set of collimator settings candidates, and a scoring system that choose the final collimator settings based on organs-at-risk (OARs) sparing criteria and dose prescription. The scoring system penalizes 3 factors: 1) jaw opening ratio on Y direction to X direction; 2) unmodulated MLC area within the jaw aperture in a dynamic MLC sequence; 3) OAR shielding capability by MLC with MLC aperture control constraints. For validation, the other 16 pancreas SBRT cases were analyzed. Two dual-arc plans were generated for each validation case, an optimized plan (Planopt) and a conventional plan (Planconv). Each plan was generated by a same set of auxiliary planning structures and dose-volume-histogram (DVH) constraints in inverse optimization. Dosimetric results were analyzed and compared. All results were tested by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.
Results: Both plan groups had no statistical differences in target dose coverage V95% (p=0.84) and Root Conformity Index (p=0.30). Mean doses of OARs were improved or comparable. In comparison with Planconv, Planopt reduced maximum dose (D0.03cc) to stomach (-49.5cGy, p=0.03), duodenum (-63.5cGy, p<0.01), and bowel (-62.5cGy, p=0.01). Planopt also showed lower modulation complexity score (p=0.02), which implies its higher modulation complexity of the dynamic MLC sequence.
Conclusions: The proposed collimator settings optimization algorithm successfully improved dosimetric performance for dual-arc VMAT plans in pancreas SBRT. The proposed algorithm was demonstrated with great clinical feasibility and readiness.
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