An Analysis of Plan Robustness for Esophageal Tumors: Comparing Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Plans and Spot Scanning Proton Planning.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Planning studies to compare x-ray and proton techniques and to select the most suitable technique for each patient have been hampered by the nonequivalence of several aspects of treatment planning and delivery. A fair comparison should compare similarly advanced delivery techniques from current clinical practice and also assess the robustness of each technique. The present study therefore compared volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and single-field optimization (SFO) spot scanning proton therapy plans created using a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) for dose escalation in midesophageal cancer and analyzed the effect of setup and range uncertainties on these plans.

Methods and materials

For 21 patients, SIB plans with a physical dose prescription of 2 Gy or 2.

SUBMITTER: Warren S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4838670 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature