立体定向适形放射治疗

本文介绍了立体定向适形放射治疗与常规放射治疗的主要区别：①立体定向适形放射治疗充分利用先进的影像诊断技术,并可将它们融合在一起精确确定病变靶区。②利用立体定位框架或ＣＴ模拟定位,准确定位并与治疗摆位有机地结合在一起。③治疗计划软件上充分利用计算机先进的图像重建和图像显示功能设计治疗计划,并具有ＤＶＨ、ＴＣＰ和ＮＴＣＰ等治疗计划评价功能。     

适形放射治疗的临床进展

适形放疗技术是一种有效提高治疗增益比的技术，它使得在照射过程中高剂量区剂量分布的形状在三维方向上与肿瘤靶区的形状一致，从而提高肿瘤组织剂量，减少正常组织受量，提高局部控制率，进而提高生存率和治愈率。适形治疗技术能够对靶区进行精确定位，具备强大的治疗计划系统，能通过CT、MRI等对肿瘤体积进行精确判定。近年来，人们对颅内肿瘤、头颈部肿瘤、肺癌、巨块型肝癌或肝转移癌、前列腺癌等进行了适形放射治疗，并得出满意的结论。但存在的一些问题还需进一步研究及探讨。     

适形放射治疗的临床进展

适形放疗技术是一种有效提高治疗增益比的技术，它使得在照射过程中高剂量区剂量分布的形状在三维方向上与肿瘤靶区的形状一致，从而提高肿瘤组织剂量，减少正常组织受量，提高局部控制率，进而提高生存率和治愈率。适形治疗技术能够对靶区进行精确定位，具备强大的治疗计划系统，能通过CT、MRI等对肿瘤体积进行精确判定。近年来，人们对颅内肿瘤、头颈部肿瘤、肺癌、巨块型肝癌或肝转移癌、前列腺癌等进行了适形放射治疗，并得出满意的结论。但存在的一些问题还需进一步研究及探讨。     

立体定向适形放射治疗颅内肿瘤70例疗效分析

目的分析70例颅内肿瘤经X线立体定向适形放射治疗后的临床疗效。方法利用XK808X-刀系统治疗70例,共77个病灶。本组病人共治疗3～10次,3～6Gy/次,处方剂量为DT45～65Gy,每次间隔1～2d。结果治疗3～12月后复查MRI,病灶消失者23个(CR33%),病灶缩小1/2或以上者31个(PR44%),病灶缩小1/2以下(NG17%),4个(PD6%),总有效率(CR+PR)达77%。结论立体定向适形放射治疗颅内肿瘤是一种无创伤性安全有效的方法,副作用小,它不同于一般外放疗,它的治疗次数虽少而瘤体受量高,疗效肯定,但要严格掌握适应证,注意并发症,优化剂量选择。     

立体定向三维适形放射治疗技术的应用

随着临床剂量学和照射技术的发展，特别是计算机在放射治疗中的应用，使得放射治疗的质和量有了很大提高，放射治疗的基本目标是最大限度地将放射线的剂量集中到病变(靶区)内杀灭肿瘤细胞，、而使周围正常组织和器官少受或免受不必要的照射。这是放射治疗最理想的治疗技术，要使治疗区的形状与靶区形状一致，必须从三维方向上进行剂量分布的控制，立体定向三维适形放射治疗(3DCRT)正是使高剂量区分布的形状在三维方向上与病变(靶区)形状一致，从而有效地提高治疗增益。     

立体定向适形放射治疗前列腺癌30例临床分析

目的探讨立体定向适形放射治疗前列腺癌的临床应用价值。方法30例前列腺癌患者,26例放疗前行双侧睾丸切除术,20例同时服用内分泌治疗药物。全部采用WDVE-XKY808立体定向适形放射治疗系统照射前列腺靶区,5次/周,2 Gy/次,总剂量DT70~80 Gy。结果30例患者经立体定向适形放射治疗后3、6、12个月复查有效率分别为70%(21/30)、97%(29/30)、90%(27/30)6个月时病灶缩小最明显。1、3、5年总生存率分别为100.0%、85.0%、75.1%。结论立体定向适形放射治疗中晚期前列腺癌有较好的局部控制效果和较高的安全性,可作为前列腺癌姑息治疗的有效方法之一。     

Optimization and quality assurance of an image-guided radiation therapy system for intensity-modulated radiation therapy radiotherapy

To develop a quality assurance (QA) of XVI cone beam system (XVIcbs) for its optimal imaging-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) implementation, and to construe prostate tumor margin required for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) if IGRT is unavailable. XVIcbs spatial accuracy was explored with a humanoid phantom; isodose conformity to lesion target with a rice phantom housing a soap as target; image resolution with a diagnostic phantom; and exposure validation with a Radcal ion chamber. To optimize XVIcbs, rotation flexmap on coincidency between gantry rotational axis and that of XVI cone beam scan was investigated. Theoretic correlation to image quality of XVIcbs rotational axis stability was elaborately studied. Comprehensive QA of IGRT using XVIcbs has initially been explored and then implemented on our general IMRT treatments, and on special IMRT radiotherapies such as head and neck (H and N), stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Fifteen examples of prostate setup accounted for 350 IGRT cone beam system were analyzed. IGRT accuracy results were in agreement ± 1 mm. Flexmap 0.25 mm met the manufacturer's specification. Films confirmed isodose coincidence with target (soap) via XVIcbs, otherwise not. Superficial doses were measured from 7.2–2.5 cGy for anatomic diameters 15–33 cm, respectively. Image quality was susceptible to rotational stability or patient movement. IGRT using XVIcbs on general IMRT treatments such as prostate, SRT, SRS, and SBRT for setup accuracy were verified; and subsequently coordinate shifts corrections were recorded. The 350 prostate IGRT coordinate shifts modeled to Gaussian distributions show central peaks deviated off the isocenter by 0.6 ± 3.0 mm, 0.5 ± 4.5 mm in the X(RL)- and Z(SI)-coordinates, respectively; and 2.0 ± 3.0 mm in the Y(AP)-coordinate as a result of belly and bladder capacity variations. Sixty-eight percent of confidence was within ± 4.5 mm coordinates shifting. IGRT using XVIcbs is critical to IMRT for prostate and H and N, especially SRT, SRS, and SBRT. To optimize this modality of IGRT, a vigilant QA program is indispensable. Prostate IGRT reveals treatment accuracy as subject to coordinates' adjustments; otherwise a 4.5-mm margin is required to allow for full dose coverage of the clinical target volume, notwithstanding toxicity to normal tissues.     

Output factor calculations for intensity modulation radiation therapy as dosimetry quality assurance

Because intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is complicated by many small, irregular, and off-center fields, dosimetry quality assurance (QA) is extremely important. QA is performed with verifications of both dose distributions and some arbitrary point doses. In most institutes, verifications are carried out in comparison with dose values generated from radiation treatment planning systems (RTPs) and actually measured doses. However, the estimation of arbitrary point doses without RTPs should be feasible in order to perform IMRT delivery more safely and accurately in terms of the clinical aspect. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for calculating output factors at the center point of the collimations in an IMRT field with step and shoot delivery machines in which the lower jaws were replaced with multileaf collimators (MLC). We assumed that output is independently affected by collimator scatter and total scatter according to the position of the upper jaws and each of the MLC leaves (lower jaws). Then, the two scatter factors are accurately measured when changing their position. Thus, the output factor for an irregular field could be calculated with the new algorithm. We adopted this technique for some irregular fields and actual IMRT fields for head-and-neck cancer and found that the differences between calculated and measured output values were both small and acceptable. This study suggests that our methods and this algorithm are useful for dosimetry quality assurance.     

Optical tracking technology in stereotactic radiation therapy.

The last decade has seen the introduction of advanced technologies that have enabled much more precise application of therapeutic radiation. These relatively new technologies include multileaf collimators, 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy planning, and intensity modulated radiotherapy in radiotherapy. Therapeutic dose distributions have become more conformal to volumes of disease, sometimes utilizing sharp dose gradients to deliver high doses to target volumes while sparing nearby radiosensitive structures. Thus, accurate patient positioning has become even more important, so that the treatment delivered to the patient matches the virtual treatment plan in the computer treatment planning system. Optical and image-guided radiation therapy systems offer the potential to improve the precision of patient treatment by providing a more robust fiducial system than is typically used in conventional radiotherapy. The ability to accurately position internal targets relative to the linac isocenter and to provide real-time patient tracking theoretically enables significant reductions in the amount of normal tissue irradiated. This report reviews the concepts, technology, and clinical applications of optical tracking systems currently in use for stereotactic radiation therapy. Applications of radiotherapy optical tracking technology to respiratory gating and the monitoring of implanted fiducial markers are also discussed.     

Image-guidance for stereotactic body radiation therapy.

The term stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) describes a recently introduced external beam radiation paradigm by which small lesions outside the brain are treated under stereotactic conditions, in a single or few fractions of high-dose radiation delivery. Similar to the treatment planning and delivery process for cranial radiosurgery, the emphasis is on sparing of adjacent normal tissues through the creation of steep dose gradients. Thus, advanced methods for assuring an accurate relationship between the target volume position and radiation beam geometry, immediately prior to radiation delivery, must be implemented. Such methods can employ imaging techniques such as planar (e.g., x-ray) or volumetric (e.g., computed tomography [CT]) approaches and are commonly summarized under the general term image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). This review summarizes clinical experience with volumetric and ultrasound based image-guidance for SBRT. Additionally, challenges and potential limitations of pre-treatment image-guidance are presented and discussed.     

Cyberknife stereotactic radiosurgery and radiation therapy treatment planning system

CyberKnife is an image-guided stereotactical dose delivery system designed for both focal irradiation and radiation therapy (SRT). Focal irradiation refers the use of many small beams to deliver highly focus dose to a small target region in a few fractions. The system consists of a 6-MV linac mounted to a robotic arm, coupled with a digital x-ray imaging system. The radiation dose is delivered using many beams oriented at a number of defined or nodal positions around the patients. The CyberKnife can be used for both intracranial and extracranial treaments unlike the Gamma Knife which is limited to intracranial cases. Multiplan (Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) is the treatment planning system developed to cooperate with this accurate and versatile SRS and SRT system, and exploit the full function of Cyberknife in high-precision radiosurgery and therapy. Optimized inverse treatment plan can be achieved by fine-tuning contours and planning parameters. Precision is the newest version of Cyberknife treatment planning system (TPS) and an upgrade to Multiplan. It offers several new features such as Monte Carlo for multileaf collimator (MLC) and retreatment for other modalities that added more support for the Cyberknife system. The Cybeknife TPS is an easy-to-use and versatile inverse planning platform, suitable for stereotactic radiosurgery and radiation therapy. The knowledge and experience of the planner in this TPS is essential to improve the quality of patient care.