Different aspects of plan complexity in prostate VMAT plans

Abstract

Abstract In this work we evaluated VMAT plan complexity by using different methods and approaches: complexity related to the aperture shape, the nature of the dynamic delivery, the impact of delivery variations as well as complexity analyses based on measurements. Prostate cancer treatment plans with different levels of complexity were created for three different patient cases. The plans intended to be most complex were also scored to be the most complex according to the evaluation methods used. The results for the other plans were more diverse. The methods that included 3D spatial information on complexity gave additional information important for the analysis of clinical relevance. In order to use specific complexity estimation methods for taking clinical decisions it is essential to understand how different aspects of complexity are incorporated in each method.