Time-Resolved Versus Integrated Transit Planar Dosimetry for Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy

Abstract

Purpose: It is desirable that dosimetric deviations during radiation treatments are detected. Integrated transit planar dosimetry is commonly used to evaluate external beam treatments such as volumetric-modulated arc therapy. This work focuses on patient geometry changes which result in differences between the planned and the delivered radiation dose. Integrated transit planar dosimetry will average out some deviations. Novel time-resolved transit planar dosimetry compares the delivered dose of volumetric-modulated arc therapy to the planned dose at various time points. Four patient cases are shown where time-resolved transit planar dosimetry detects patient geometry changes during treatment. Methods: A control point to control point comparison between the planned dose and the treatment dose of volumetric-modulated arc therapy beams is calculated using the planning computed tomography and the kV cone-beam computed tomography of the day and evaluated with a time-resolved γ function. Results were computed for 4 patients treated with volumetric-modulated arc therapy, each showing an anatomical change: pleural effusion, rectal gas pockets, and tumor regression. Results: In all cases, the geometrical change was detected by time-resolved transit planar dosimetry, whereas integrated transit planar dosimetry showed minor or no indication of the dose discrepancy. Both tumor regression cases were detected earlier in the treatment with time-resolved planar dosimetry in comparison to integrated transit planar dosimetry. The pleural effusion and the gas pocket were detected exclusively with time-resolved transit planar dosimetry. Conclusions: Clinical cases were presented in this proof-of-principle study in which integrated transit planar dosimetry did not detect dosimetrically relevant deviations to the same extent time-resolved transit planar dosimetry was able to. Time-resolved transit planar dosimetry also provides results that can be presented as a function of arc delivery angle allowing easier interpretation compared to integrated transit planar dosimetry.