Dosimetric analysis of patients receiving volumetric-modulated arc palliative radiotherapy to the thoracic spine: A comparison with conventional mono-isocentric parallel opposed pair treatment.

Purpose: Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has allowed for dose escalation and a decrease in radiation-induced toxicities for a variety of treatment sites, including spinal metastases. This article will compare the dosimetric impacts on normal lung tissue in patients treated with both VMAT and conventional treatment to the thoracic spine and determine if any significant difference exists among patient reported Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) scores.

Methods: This retrospective quality assurance study identified 288 patients who received palliative radiotherapy to the thoracic spine using VMAT or conventional planning techniques with various palliative dose fractionation schemes.