Three-dimensional dosimetric comparison of radiation therapy treatment planning of the pancreas.

Radiation therapy for carcinoma of the pancreas requires high doses for local control. Three-dimensional dose distributions are calculated for four patients with pancreatic cancer using two conventional (4-field box and 3-field techniques) and two noncoplanar (4 and 6 oblique fields) treatment field arrangements. Uniform dose distributions are obtained for all beam arrangements. The 4-field oblique beams show a potential advantage for lower dose to the kidneys when compared with 4-field box technique, and to the small bowel, when compared with 3-field beams. The data suggest that the noncoplanar beams may be useful alternative techniques for treating this disease with certain case presentations and should be considered during the treatment planning process.