The feasibility and benefits of using volumetric arc therapy in patients with brain metastases: a systematic review.

Introduction: Radiotherapy management of patients with brain metastases most commonly involve a whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) regime, as well as newer techniques such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). The long treatment times incurred by these techniques indicates the need for a novel technique that has shorter treatment times, whilst still producing highly conformal treatment with the potential to deliver escalated doses to the target area. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a dynamic, highly conformal technique that may deliver high doses of radiation through a single gantry arc and reduce overall treatment times.

2D versus 3D radiation therapy for prostate carcinoma: a direct comparison of dose volume parameters.

That three dimensional (3D) planning for radiation therapy (RT) of carcinoma of the prostate (CaP) improves radiation dosimetry to the tumour and reduces dose to the rectum and bladder compared with 2D planning, has not been properly evaluated. We addressed this by downloading the CT data files of twenty-two patients who had completed 2D planned RT for CaP onto a 3D planning system and re-planning RT using the same four field technique and dose prescription as the 2D technique. The radiation dose at 100%, 90%, 50% and 0% volumes (D100, D90, D50 and D0) of the Dose Volume Histograms (DVH's) of the GTV, PTV, rectum and bladder, the area under the curves of each DVH and the field sizes were evaluated and compared between the two sets of plans.