Sparing the contralateral submandibular gland without compromising PTV coverage by using volumetric modulated arc therapy

Radiation Oncology

Suresh Senan¹  Ben J Slotman¹  Derek HF Rietveld¹  Wilko FAR Verbakel¹  Patricia Doornaert¹ 

[1] Department of Radiation Oncology, VU University Medical Center, PB 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

关键词: xerostomia;    dose distribution;    head and neck cancer;    RapidArc;    volumetric modulated arc therapy;    submandibular gland sparing;   

Others  :  1224324
DOI  :  10.1186/1748-717X-6-74

 received in 2011-02-15, accepted in 2011-06-16,  发布年份 2011

【 摘 要 】

Background

Salivary gland function decreases after radiation doses of 39 Gy or higher. Currently, submandibular glands are not routinely spared. We implemented a technique for sparing contralateral submandibular glands (CLSM) during contralateral elective neck irradiation without compromising PTV coverage.

Methods

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (RapidArc™) plans were applied in 31 patients with stage II-IV HNC without contralateral neck metastases, all of whom received elective treatment to contralateral nodal levels II-IV. Group 1 consisted of 21 patients undergoing concurrent chemo-radiotherapy, with elective nodal doses of 57.75 Gy (PTV_elect) and 70 Gy to tumor and pathological nodes (PTV_boost) in 7 weeks. Group 2 consisted of 10 patients treated with radiotherapy to 54.45 Gy to PTV_elect and 70 Gy to PTV_boost in 6 weeks. All clinical plans spared the CLSM using individually adapted constraints. For each patient, a second plan was retrospectively generated without CLSM constraints ('non-sparing plan').

Results

PTV coverage was similar for both plans, with 98.7% of PTV_elect and 99.2% of PTV_boost receiving ≥95% of the prescription dose. The mean CLSM dose in group 1 was 33.2 Gy for clinical plans, versus 50.6 Gy in 'non-sparing plans' (p < 0.001). In group 2, mean CLSM dose was 34.4 Gy for clinical plans, and 46.8 Gy for non-sparing plans (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Elective radiotherapy to contralateral nodal levels II-IV using RapidArc consistently limited CLSM doses well below 39 Gy, without compromising PTV-coverage. Future studies will reveal if this extent of dose reduction can reduce patient symptoms.

【 授权许可】

   
2011 Doornaert et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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