Rapid Plan Module Applying to Optimize the Planning Process for Treatment of Head and Neck and Rectal Cancer

Abstract

In situations where the number of patients is large, it may be necessary to quickly create dosimetry plan without compromising the quality of the final plan. With the help of the modern technologies, it is possible to optimize and standardize the dosimetry planning process. The Varian Eclipse planning system has a Rapid Plan module, which is an automated system for creating plans based on the database of clinical plans (1-4). Knowledge-based planning is a promising method that can improve plan quality and speed up treatment planning. In this study the performance of volume modulated radiotherapy planning optimization (VMAT) for head and neck and rectal cancer was examined. Plans were compared based on dose statistics for critical organs and planning target volume using dose-volume histograms. Each model is configured on more than 50 real plans. The plans made using the RapidPlan had dose distributions no worse than the dose distributions of clinical plans. No statistically significant differences were found regarding planning target volume (PTV) coverage. The model was used for already treated patients with different types of localizations. The results indicate that automation of dosimetry planning is possible using the Rapid Plan module, and this may facilitate its use in clinical practice.