Prospective clinical study of effect of neck muscle training on reducing setup error of radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
10.3760/cma.j.cn113030-20230819-00054
- VernacularTitle:颈部肌群训练减少鼻咽癌放疗摆位误差的前瞻性临床研究
- Author:
Lihua ZHANG
1
;
Xiaowei YAO
;
Bo LI
;
Linlin XU
;
Zhaodi XU
;
Fei BAI
Author Information
1. 空军军医大学第一附属医院放疗科，西安 710032
- Keywords:
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma;
Neck muscle training;
Radiotherapy;
Setup error
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology
2024;33(10):942-949
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To evaluate the effect of neck muscle training on reducing the neck setup error during radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods:Clinical data of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who were treated with radiotherapy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from February 2021 to October 2022 were selected and analyzed. All subjects were randomly divided into the experimental group ( n=48) and control group ( n=51) at a ratio of 1:1 using a random number table method. In the experimental group, patients received neck muscle training prior to treatment, and those in the control group received conventional treatment without additional interventions. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed weekly to measure and analyze the setup errors at the level of the slopes, 4th cervical vertebra (C4) and 7th cervical vertebra (C7). The four-dimensional displacement [left-right (LR), superior-inferior (SI), anterior-posterior (AP), rotation (Rtn)] systematic errors and random errors at each level were calculated, and the planning target volume (PTV) boundary was calculated. The differences at three different levels of slope, C4, C7 (LR, SI, AP axis) were compared between two groups. The correlation of setup errors in each direction was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. The changes of cervical curvature, cutaneous toxicity (common terminology criteria for adverse events V3.0) and pain assessment (numerical rating scale) were compared between two groups. Qualitative data between two groups were compared by χ2 test. Quantitative data between two groups were compared by t-test. Results:Baseline features were well balanced in both groups. The setup error in the experimental group was smaller than that in the control group. For the setup error in the AP direction, the setup errors at the levels of slope, C4 and C7 in the experimental group were (0.94±0.88) mm, (1.13±1.03) mm and (1.32±1.22) mm, significantly less than (1.66±1.23) mm, (1.63±1.35) mm and (1.89±1.48) mm in the control group (all P<0.001). In the SI direction, the setup errors at the levels of slope, C4 and C7 in the experimental group were (1.14±0.87) mm, (1.31±0.93) mm and (1.39±0.95) mm, compared with (1.22±0.95) mm, (1.40±1.11) mm and (1.52±1.08) mm in the control group ( P=0.278, 0.272, 0.100). The differences in the AP direction at the level of C4 and C7 in the experimental group were smaller than those in the control group ( P=0.014, 0.005). The required PTV boundary in the AP direction in the experimental group was increased from 1.77 mm at the slope level to 2.98 mm at the level of C7. In the control group, it was increased from 3.02 mm at the slope level to 4.78 mm at the level of C7. Correlation analysis showed that at the C4 and C7 levels, and the setup errors in the SI direction were moderately negatively correlated with those in the AR direction. There were no significant differences in cervical curvature, skin toxicity and pain assessment between two groups. Conclusion:Neck muscle training can reduce the setup error in the AP direction and PTV boundary of radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is worthy of clinical promotion.
