KylinRay-IMRT is the advanced radiotherapy treatment planning module of accurate radiotherapy system (KylinRay) aiming to provide accurate and efficient plan design platform. In this paper the system design, main functions and key technologies of KylinRay-IMRT were introduced. KylinRay-IMRT supports three dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and many other types of treatment plan design with function modules including patient data management, image registration and fusion, image contouring, image three dimensional reconstruction and visualization, three dimensional conformal radiotherapy planning, intensity modulated radiotherapy planning, plan evaluation and comparison, and report print. KylinRay-IMRT has been tested by the national standard YY/T 0889-2013, the results showed that the performance of KylinRay-IMRT can fully meet the standard requirements.
Humans ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To compare the application among intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy(3D-CRT) and conventional radiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced middle-low rectal cancer. METHODS: From January 2015 to December 2016, 93 locally advanced middle-low rectal cancer patients with clinical stage cT3N+M0 or cT4N0/+M0 who underwent preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy at Department of Colorectal Surgery, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University and had complete data were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into IMRT group (17 cases), 3D-CRT group (28 cases) and CRT group (48 cases) according to different radiotherapy methods. The frequency and dose of CRT were 1 time/day, 5 times/week, for a total of 5 weeks, with a single dose of 2.0 Gy, the total dose was 50 Gy. Frequency and dose of 3D-CRT and IMRT were 1 time/day, 5 times/week, for a total of 23 to 28 times, with a single dose of 1.8 to 2.0 Gy, and a total dose of 45.0 to 50.4 Gy. The chemotherapy regimen was performed with capecitabine tablets at a dose of 825 mg/m twice a day for 5 days every week, at the same time during radiotherapy. The efficacy, chemotherapy adverse reactions and immune function of the three groups were compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the baseline data among the three groups (all P>0.05). The proportion of patients receiving permanent ostomy in the IMRT group and the 3D-CRT group was 29.4%(5/17) and 32.1%(9/28) respectively, which was lower than 58.3%(28/48) in CRT group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=7.982, P=0.030), while this proportion was not significantly different between IMRT and 3D-CRT group(χ²=0.037, P=0.848). The pathologic complete response(pCR) rate was 23.7%(22/93) in the whole study, and the pCR rate was 39.3%(11/28) in the 3D-CRT group, which was higher than that of CRT group and IMRT group [12.5%(6/48) and 29.4%(5/17)], and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=7.407, P=0.025), while there was no significant difference in pCR rate between CRT group and IMRT group (χ²=2.554, P=0.110). There was no adverse reaction of grade 3 or above in all three groups. No significant difference in the incidence of bone marrow suppression, abnormal liver and kidney function markers, digestive tract reaction or radiation dermatitis was found(all P>0.05). After receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the proportion of CD3/CD4 cells in the IMRT group and the CRT group decreased compared with that before treatment(23.1±9.3 vs. 31.1±10.9, 27.4±10.7 vs. 33.6±7.2, respectively); the proportion of CD3/CD8 cells was up-regulated (36.1±15.2 vs. 24.8±10.9, 30.9±14.4 vs. 24.0±8.3,respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05), while the above indexes before and after treatment were not significantly different in the 3D-CRT group(all P>0.05). After treatment, the proportion of CD4/CD8 cells in IMRT group decreased (0.8±0.6 vs. 1.6±1.0, t=3.838, P=0.003), while this proportion was not significantly different in CRT group and 3D-CRT group(all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS IMRT and 3D-CRT can reduce the rate of permanent stoma. 3D-CRT can increase pCR rate. No obvious advantage is shown in IMRT as compared with 3D-CRT in the short-term efficacy. On the contrary, an immunosuppressive status may occur. Therefore, 3D-CRT is recommended as the best preoperative treatment strategy for patients with locally advanced middle-low rectal cancer, especially for those with immunosuppression status.
Humans ; Radiotherapy ; methods ; standards ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; standards ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; standards ; Rectal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference of the dose distribution in clinical target volume and organ at risk (OAR) between coplanar decile field intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for postoperative radiotherapy of cervical cancer.

METHODSTen postoperative patients with cervical cancer were selected randomly to undergo CT scan and planning target volume (PTV) and OAR contouring. 3D-CRT and coplanar decile IMRT planning was performed for each patient with a prescribed dose of 50 Gy. The homogeneity index (HI), conformity index (CI), maximum dose, minimum dose, mean dose of PTV, and irradiated volume of OARs were calculated and the results were compared.

RESULTS5-field IMRT, 7-field IMRT and 9-field IMRT plans had a significant better conformity index (CI) of PTV compared with 3D-CRT (P<0.05) . Compared with 3D-CRT plans , V30, V40, and V50 of the bladder, V50 of the small bowel, and V30, V40, and V50 of the rectum in the coplanar decile IMRT plans were all significantly reduced (P<0.05) but showed no significant differences among the IMRT plans (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONCoplanar decile IMRT plans is superior to 3D-CRT plan in terms of the conformity index (CI) of the PTV and sparing the bladder, rectum and small bowel. Seven-field and 9-field IMRT do not warrant more benefits than 5-field IMRT, and the latter can significantly reduce the treatment time and costs.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; methods ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; radiotherapy

OBJECTIVETo implement dose reconstruction and dose-guided intensity modulated radiotherapy for helical tomotherapy.

METHODSDose reconstruction was implemented on adaptive helical tomotherapy with the online megavoltage CT (MVCT) imaging from a patient with nasopharyngeal cancer. The differences of isodose line between actual and planned deposition were analysis in 3D distribution, on which the hot spot and cold spot were lined. The dose delivered to these areas was modulated in later fractions to keep the planned requirement.

RESULTSThe differences between actual and planned isodose line were shown on the image visually. The modulation to the hot spot and cold spot in later fraction corrected the incorrectly delivered dose to achieve the requirement of primary plan.

CONCLUSIONSThe dose reconstruction and dose-guided intensity modulated radiotherapy can be implemented in adaptive helical tomotherapy.

Humans ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; methods ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

To investigate the patient-specific dose verification method using ArcCHECK for total marrow irradiation (TMI) with Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) and Helical Tomotherapy (HT). The kVCT images collected from 8 patients were respectively designed for RapidArc and Tomotherapy plans in total marrow irradiation. ArcCHECK was used for dose verification for the head-neck, chest-abdomen and pelvic. The merging function of ArcCHECK was used in VMAT and the method of double plans (reference and delivery plans) were used in HT. The γ-analysis passing rates for the head-neck, chest-abdomen, pelvic were 98.9% ± 1.9%, 98.4% ± 1.8%, 97.4% ± 2.1% for VMAT plans and 94.3% ± 1.5%, 96.5 ± 1.2%, 94.1% ± 1.9% for HT plans. The results show that using the merging function of ArcCHECK can achieve the dose verification well for VMAT plans with TMI. The method of double plans was done for the dose verification of HT plans with TMI as well as the plans with the targets keeping away from the set-up center.
Bone Marrow ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

Clinically, beam matching can greatly improve the flexibility and efficiency of treating patients between different medical electron linacs. However, in addition to the regular quality assurance (QA) test of the machine performance of linacs, there is still a lack of comprehensive evaluation of the clinical radiotherapy performance of beam-matched linacs. In this paper, the performance of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) between three closely matched linacs was evaluated by statistical process control (SPC) technology. It was found that the average and median γ passing rates of the VMAT QA processes of the three linacs had little difference, but the process capability levels were at three different levels. The results show that SPC technology can effectively evaluate the performance of beam matching for medical electron linacs, improve the patient-specific VMAT QA processes, and guide clinical decision-making.
Electrons ; Particle Accelerators ; Quality Assurance, Health Care ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

Patient-specific volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) quality assurance (QA) process is an important component of the implementation process of clinical radiotherapy. The tolerance limit and action limit of discrepancies between the calculated dose and the delivered radiation dose are the key parts of the VMAT QA processes as recognized by the AAPM TG-218 report, however, there is no unified standard for these two values among radiotherapy centers. In this study, based on the operational recommendations given in the AAPM TG-218 report, treatment site-specific tolerance limits and action limits of gamma pass rate in VMAT QA processes when using ArcCHECK for dose verification were established by statistical process control (SPC) methodology. The tolerance limit and action limit were calculated based on the first 25 in-control VMAT QA for each site. The individual control charts were drawn to continuously monitor the VMAT QA process with 287 VMAT plans and analyze the causes of VMAT QA out of control. The tolerance limits for brain, head and neck, abdomen and pelvic VMAT QA processes were 94.56%, 94.68%, 94.34%, and 92.97%, respectively, and the action limits were 93.82%, 92.54%, 93.23%, and 90.29%, respectively. Except for pelvic, the tolerance limits for the brain, head and neck, and abdomen were close to the universal tolerance limit of TG-218 (95%), and the action limits for all sites were higher than the universal action limit of TG-218 (90%). The out-of-control VMAT QAs were detected by the individual control chart, including one case of head and neck, two of the abdomen and two of the pelvic site. Four of them were affected by the setup error, and one was affected by the calibration of ArcCHECK. The results show that the SPC methodology can effectively monitor the IMRT/VMAT QA processes. Setting treatment site-specific tolerance limits is helpful to investigate the cause of out-of-control VMAT QA.
Calibration ; Humans ; Quality Assurance, Health Care ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

The purpose of this study is to establish and apply a correction method for titanium alloy implant in spinal IMRT plan, a corrected CT-density table was revised from normal CT-density table to include the density of titanium alloy implant. Dose distribution after and before correction were calculated and compared to evaluate the dose deviation. Plans were also copied to a spinal cancer simulation phantom. A titanium alloy fixation system for spine was implanted in this phantom. Plans were recalculated and compared with the measurement result. The result of this study shows that the max dose of spinal cord showed significant difference after correction, and the deviation between calculation results and measurement results was reduced after correction. The method for expanding the range CT-density table, which means that the density of titanium alloy was included, can reduce the error in calculation.
Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/methods* ; Titanium ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Alloys ; Radiometry/methods* ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods*

To study the feasibility of ArcCheck verification system in dosimetric verification for stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) the stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) with flattening filter free (FFF) model.
 Methods: A total of 76 cases under SRT treatment plans were introduced into ArcCheck phantom and recalculated. Threshold criteria was set as (3%, 3 mm, 10%) or (2%, 2 mm, 10%). The calculated dose distribution and the measured dose distribution of ArcCheck phantom were compared by means of distance to agree (DTA) and Gamma analysis method respectively.
 Results: Based on the threshold criteria (3%, 3 mm, 10%), the relative and absolute mean pass rates of SRT treatment plans by DTA and Gamma analysis were greater than 95%. Based on the threshold criteria (2%, 2 mm, 10%), the relative and absolute mean pass rates of SRT treatment plan by DTA and Gamma analysis were about 90%. The dose pass rate of Gamma analysis method was slightly higher than that of DTA analysis method (P<0.001).
 Conclusion: The ArcCheck verification system is a rapid and accurate method for SRT dose verification, and discrepancies are found in different analysis methods.
Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Radiosurgery ; methods ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

Dose verification is carried out on the individualized three-dimensional phantom based on 3D printing technology, which simulates the anatomical structure of human body, contour shape, tumor anatomical structure and other dangerous organs to the greatest extent, and produces a reasonable and effective dose validation phantom. According to the need to obtain effective patient data, import Mimics software to reconstruct the parts of the body and its surrounding tissues and organs that need to be measured, and make them into three-dimensional shell components. The 3D printing is used to assemble and fill the equivalent tissue, and then the body phantom is made. The phantom was scanned by CT and the data was transmitted to TPS system. The previously completed treatment plan was transplanted to the phantom. The phantom was placed according to the patient's location information, irradiated and measured data. The three-dimensional shell assembly is completely reconstructed according to the patient's data, and the contour difference is not significant. The shell is filled with tissue radiation equivalent material whose CT value is the same as the average CT value of the shell volume. The CT image data show that the radiation equivalence of the phantom is similar to the actual tissue of the patient, and the equivalent dose distribution conforms to the conventional treatment range. It can provide a reliable means of dose verification for the accurate design of intensity modulated radiation therapy.
Humans ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated