A Pre-implementation Study of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Same-day Planning and Treatment of Vertebral Bone Metastases Within a Rapid-access Palliative Radiotherapy Programme.

Aims: We aimed to develop a process for same-day contouring, planning, quality assurance and delivery of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for vertebral bone metastases within our institution's rapid-access palliative radiotherapy programme.

Materials And Methods: Two thoracic (T6-7, T3-7) and two lumbar (L2-3, L1-5) targets were contoured on computed tomography images acquired from an anthropomorphic phantom and five patient scans. Inverse planning aimed to provide coverage of a prescribed dose of 8 Gy with a combined lung V2Gy < 25% and a combined kidney mean dose <2 Gy.

Clinical Specialist Radiation Therapist in Palliative Radiation Therapy: Report of an Orientation, Training, and Support Program.

Introduction: A clinical specialist radiation therapist (CSRT) position in palliative radiation therapy (RT) was created at our institution. Herein, we report the details of the CSRT's orientation, training, and support program.

Methods: We performed an audit and needs assessment of palliative RT services at our centre.

Comparison of four techniques for spine stereotactic body radiotherapy: Dosimetric and efficiency analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the dosimetric differences between four techniques for spine stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT): CyberKnife (CK), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and helical tomotherapy (HT) with dynamic jaws (HT-D) and fixed jaws (HT-F).

Materials/methods: Data from 10 patients were utilized. All patients were planned for 24 Gy in two fractions, with the primary objectives being: (a) restricting the maximum dose to the cord to ≤ 17 Gy and/or cauda equina to ≤ 20 Gy, and (b) to maximize the clinical target volume (CTV) to receive the prescribed dose.

Clinical use of a commercial Monte Carlo treatment planning system for electron beams.

In 2002 we fully implemented clinically a commercial Monte Carlo based treatment planning system for electron beams. The software, developed by MDS Nordion (presently Nucletron), is based on Kawrakow's VMC++ algorithm. The Monte Carlo module is integrated with our Theraplan Plustrade mark treatment planning system.