Dosimetric Evaluation of Pinnacle's Automated Treatment Planning Software to Manually Planned Treatments.

Introduction: With the advent of complex treatment techniques like volumetric modulated arc therapy, there has been increasing interest in treatment planning technologies aimed at reducing planning time. One of these such technologies is auto-planning, which is an automated planning module within Pinnacle. This study seeks to retrospectively evaluate the dosimetric quality of auto-planning-derived treatment plans as they compare to manual plans for intact prostate, prostate and lymph nodes, and brain treatment sites.

Comparison of composite prostate radiotherapy plan doses with dependent and independent boost phases.

Prostate cases commonly consist of dual phase planning with a primary plan followed by a boost. Traditionally, the boost phase is planned independently from the primary plan with the risk of generating hot or cold spots in the composite plan. Alternatively, boost phase can be planned taking into account the primary dose.

Dosimetric quantification of dose fall-off in liver SBRT planning using dual photon energy IMRT.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to dosimetrically compare 6 MV, 10 MV and a hybrid of 6 and 10 MV photon beam energies in liver stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) patients using a fixed-field IMRT technique. The objectives of the study were to evaluate dosimetric differences in the target volume and investigate if dose fall-off could be improved with 10MV beam energy.

Methods And Materials: Sixteen (n=16) liver SBRT patients previously treated using a non-coplanar, fixed-field IMRT technique with 6 MV were replanned using 10 MV and dual photon energy (DE).

Anatomic-based three-dimensional planning precludes use of catheter-delivered contrast for treatment of prostate cancer.

Purpose: Retrograde urethrography is a standard method to identify the prostatic apex during planning for prostate cancer radiotherapy. This is an invasive and uncomfortable procedure. With modern three-dimensional computed tomography planning, we explored whether retrograde urethrography was still necessary to accurately identify the prostatic apex.