Haseeb Ahmad Khan1. 1. Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. khan_haseeb@yahoo.com
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study was aimed to develop a simple and user-friendly software for fast and accurate computation of normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) in accordance with the Lyman model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The software CalcNTCP has been developed in Visual Basic and is equipped with two functional modes. Mode 1 is based on pre-stored values of various parameters for 27 different organ systems and the user has only to input the values of volume fraction (v) and radiation dose (D), whereas Mode 2 is designed for the customized entries. RESULTS: The results of software validation have demonstrated that CalcNTCP is more efficient and time-saving as compared to manual or semi-manual procedures. The shapes and locations of representative survival curves generated by CalcNTCP-based computations for various radiation doses (10 - 100 Gy) and reference volumes (0.33 - 1.00) absolutely matched with optimal curves. CONCLUSION: CalcNTCP is a simple, fast and accurate tool for the computation of NTCP with a direct implication in the evaluation or optimization of radiotherapy treatment plans.
PURPOSE: This study was aimed to develop a simple and user-friendly software for fast and accurate computation of normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) in accordance with the Lyman model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The software CalcNTCP has been developed in Visual Basic and is equipped with two functional modes. Mode 1 is based on pre-stored values of various parameters for 27 different organ systems and the user has only to input the values of volume fraction (v) and radiation dose (D), whereas Mode 2 is designed for the customized entries. RESULTS: The results of software validation have demonstrated that CalcNTCP is more efficient and time-saving as compared to manual or semi-manual procedures. The shapes and locations of representative survival curves generated by CalcNTCP-based computations for various radiation doses (10 - 100 Gy) and reference volumes (0.33 - 1.00) absolutely matched with optimal curves. CONCLUSION: CalcNTCP is a simple, fast and accurate tool for the computation of NTCP with a direct implication in the evaluation or optimization of radiotherapy treatment plans.