Yvonne Dzierma1, Frank G Nuesken2, Jan Palm2, Norbert P Licht2, Christian Ruebe2. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany. Electronic address: yvonne.dzierma@uks.eu. 2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Flattening filter-free (FFF) beams have recently become available for radiation therapy, offering much higher dose rates but complicating treatment owing to the nonflat profile. Stereotactic treatment is one of the most evident scenarios to investigate the use of FFF beams. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We present a planning study of a FFF 7-MV beam for the treatment of brain metastases using multiple noncoplanar arcs. Plan differences as compared with flat 6 MV photon fields are estimated using different measures of quality. Absolute dosimetry and fluence distribution are verified and the out-of-field dose is measured. RESULTS: The FFF 7-MV plans are slightly better than the flat 6-MV plans as evaluated by a number of quality indices, dose to organs at risk, and out-of-field dose, although differences may not be clinically relevant. Verification does not pose any problems. CONCLUSIONS: The FFF 7-MV treatment plans are marginally superior to the flat-beam 6-MV plans in almost all cases, with greatly reduced treatment times (almost 50%).
PURPOSE: Flattening filter-free (FFF) beams have recently become available for radiation therapy, offering much higher dose rates but complicating treatment owing to the nonflat profile. Stereotactic treatment is one of the most evident scenarios to investigate the use of FFF beams. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We present a planning study of a FFF 7-MV beam for the treatment of brain metastases using multiple noncoplanar arcs. Plan differences as compared with flat 6 MV photon fields are estimated using different measures of quality. Absolute dosimetry and fluence distribution are verified and the out-of-field dose is measured. RESULTS: The FFF 7-MV plans are slightly better than the flat 6-MV plans as evaluated by a number of quality indices, dose to organs at risk, and out-of-field dose, although differences may not be clinically relevant. Verification does not pose any problems. CONCLUSIONS: The FFF 7-MV treatment plans are marginally superior to the flat-beam 6-MV plans in almost all cases, with greatly reduced treatment times (almost 50%).
Authors: Caroline Steenken; Jens Fleckenstein; Stefan Kegel; Lennart Jahnke; Anna Simeonova; Linda Hartmann; Jens Kübler; Marlon R Veldwijk; Frederik Wenz; Carsten Herskind; Frank Anton Giordano Journal: Strahlenther Onkol Date: 2015-03-13 Impact factor: 3.621
Authors: Yvonne Dzierma; Michaela Schuermann; Patrick Melchior; Frank Nuesken; Joachim Oertel; Christian Rübe; Philipp Hendrix Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2021-02-26 Impact factor: 6.244
Authors: Yvonne Dzierma; Frank G Nuesken; Jochen Fleckenstein; Patrick Melchior; Norbert P Licht; Christian Rübe Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-04-10 Impact factor: 3.240