A treatment planning analysis of inverse-planned and forward-planned intensity-modulated radiation therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: To compare dose-volume histograms of target volumes and organs at risk in 57 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with inverse- (IP) or forward-planned (FP) intensity-modulated radiation treatment (IMRT).

Methods And Materials: The DVHs of 57 patients with NPC with IMRT with or without chemotherapy were reviewed. Thirty-one patients underwent IP IMRT, and 26 patients underwent FP IMRT.

Simplifying intensity-modulated radiotherapy plans with fewer beam angles for the treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma.

The first aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of using fewer beam angles to improve delivery efficiency for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) with inverse-planned intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IP-IMRT). A secondary aim was to evaluate whether the simplified IP-IMRT plans could reduce the indirect radiation dose. The treatment plans for 5 consecutive OPC patients previously treated with a forward-planned IMRT (FP-IMRT) technique were selected as benchmarks for this study.

A population-based atlas and clinical target volume for the head-and-neck lymph nodes.

Purpose: To develop a population-based three-dimensional lymph node target volume of the head and neck.

Methods And Materials: The T2 weighted axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of 35 patients with known head and neck cancer were reviewed. An experienced head and neck radiologist marked each lymph node (LN) electronically.

A forward-planned treatment technique using multisegments in the treatment of head-and-neck cancer.

Purpose: To describe in detail a forward-planned multisegment technique (FPMS) as an alternative treatment method for patients who are not suitable for inverse-planned intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IP-IMRT), or for situations where IP-IMRT is not available in a medical clinic.

Methods And Materials: Between April 1995 and February 2002, 38 primary head-and-neck patients were treated using the FPMS technique, which has evolved over the past 7 years at our medical center. In the most recent version of the FPMS technique, which includes 5 patients examined in this analysis, the primary tumor and the upper neck nodes were treated with 7 gantry angles, including an anterior, 2 lateral, 2 anterior oblique, and 2 posterior oblique beams with a total of 13 beam shapes formed by multileaf collimators (MLC), called MLC segments.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy for head-and-neck cancer: the UCSF experience focusing on target volume delineation.

Purpose: To review the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) experience of using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to treat head-and-neck cancer focusing on the importance of target volume delineation and adequate target volume coverage.

Methods And Materials: Between April 1995 and January 2002, 150 histologically confirmed patients underwent IMRT for their head-and-neck cancer at our institution. Sites included were nasopharynx 86, oropharynx 22, paranasal sinus 22, thyroid 6, oral tongue 3, nasal cavity 2, salivary 2, larynx 2, hypopharynx 1, lacrimal gland 1, skin 1, temporal bone 1, and trachea 1.