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Volumetric and dosimetric evaluation of radiation treatment plans: radiation conformity index

Knöös, Tommy LU orcid ; Kristensen, Ingrid LU and Nilsson, Per LU orcid (1998) In International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 42(5). p.1169-1176
Abstract
PURPOSE: The use of conformal radiation therapy has grown substantially during the last years since three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning systems with beams-eye-view planning has become commercially available. We studied the degree of conformity reached in clinical routines for some common diagnoses treated at our department by calculating a radiation conformity index (RCI). METHODS AND MATERIALS: The radiation conformity index, determined as the ratio between the target volume (PTV) and the irradiated volume, has been evaluated for 57 patients treated with 3D treatment plans. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The RCI was found to vary from 0.3 to 0.6 (average 0.4), a surprisingly low figure. The higher RCI is typical for pelvic treatments... (More)
PURPOSE: The use of conformal radiation therapy has grown substantially during the last years since three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning systems with beams-eye-view planning has become commercially available. We studied the degree of conformity reached in clinical routines for some common diagnoses treated at our department by calculating a radiation conformity index (RCI). METHODS AND MATERIALS: The radiation conformity index, determined as the ratio between the target volume (PTV) and the irradiated volume, has been evaluated for 57 patients treated with 3D treatment plans. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The RCI was found to vary from 0.3 to 0.6 (average 0.4), a surprisingly low figure. The higher RCI is typical for pelvic treatments (e.g., prostate) and stereotactic treatments. The lower RCI is found for extended tumors, such as mammary carcinomas where the adjacent nodes are included. The latter is also valid for most lung cancer patients studied. The RCI gives a consistent method for quantifying the degree of conformity based on isodose surfaces and volumes. Care during interpretation of RCI must always be taken, since small changes in the minimum dose can dramatically change the treated volume. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Three-dimensional, Conformal therapy, Treatment planning, Radiation therapy, Conformity index
in
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
volume
42
issue
5
pages
1169 - 1176
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:9869245
  • scopus:17144451998
ISSN
0360-3016
DOI
10.1016/S0360-3016(98)00239-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ea84ec49-6406-4db4-8866-f083febf77b3 (old id 1112899)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:38:47
date last changed
2022-01-27 07:55:58
@article{ea84ec49-6406-4db4-8866-f083febf77b3,
  abstract     = {{PURPOSE: The use of conformal radiation therapy has grown substantially during the last years since three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning systems with beams-eye-view planning has become commercially available. We studied the degree of conformity reached in clinical routines for some common diagnoses treated at our department by calculating a radiation conformity index (RCI). METHODS AND MATERIALS: The radiation conformity index, determined as the ratio between the target volume (PTV) and the irradiated volume, has been evaluated for 57 patients treated with 3D treatment plans. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The RCI was found to vary from 0.3 to 0.6 (average 0.4), a surprisingly low figure. The higher RCI is typical for pelvic treatments (e.g., prostate) and stereotactic treatments. The lower RCI is found for extended tumors, such as mammary carcinomas where the adjacent nodes are included. The latter is also valid for most lung cancer patients studied. The RCI gives a consistent method for quantifying the degree of conformity based on isodose surfaces and volumes. Care during interpretation of RCI must always be taken, since small changes in the minimum dose can dramatically change the treated volume.}},
  author       = {{Knöös, Tommy and Kristensen, Ingrid and Nilsson, Per}},
  issn         = {{0360-3016}},
  keywords     = {{Three-dimensional; Conformal therapy; Treatment planning; Radiation therapy; Conformity index}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{1169--1176}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics}},
  title        = {{Volumetric and dosimetric evaluation of radiation treatment plans: radiation conformity index}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0360-3016(98)00239-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0360-3016(98)00239-9}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{1998}},
}