Daliang Cao et al 2009 Phys. Med. Biol. 54 6725 doi:10.1088/0031-9155/54/21/018
Daliang Cao, Muhammad K N Afghan, Jinsong Ye, Fan Chen and David M Shepard
Show affiliationsThe recent development in linear accelerator control systems, named volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), has generated significant interest in arc-based intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The VMAT delivery technique features simultaneous changes in dose rate, gantry angle and gantry rotation speed as well as multi-leaf collimator (MLC) leaf positions while radiation is on. In this paper, we describe a generalized VMAT planning tool that is designed to take full advantage of the capabilities of the new linac control systems. The algorithm incorporates all of the MLC delivery constraints such as restrictions on MLC leaf interdigitation and the MLC leaf velocity constraints. A key feature of the algorithm is that it is able to plan for both single- and multiple-arc deliveries. Compared to conventional step-and-shoot IMRT plans, our VMAT plans created using this tool can achieve similar or better plan quality with less MU and better delivery efficiency. The accuracy of the obtained VMAT plans is also demonstrated through plan verifications performed on an Elekta Synergy linear accelerator equipped with a conventional MLC of 1 cm leaf width using a PreciseBeam® VMAT linac control system.
Issue 21 (7 November 2009)
Received 17 March 2009, in final form 28 September 2009
Published 20 October 2009
Daliang Cao et al 2009 Phys. Med. Biol. 54 6725
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