Abstract:
Objective To evaluate what is the optimum radiation technique for parotid tumors postoperative radiotherapy to achieve dose uniformity and protection organs at risk.
Methods Dose distribution of different plans were calculated and compared for 8 patients treated in our hospital.In each case, the dose of 95%PTV was prescribed to 60 Gy/30 fractions.The conventional radiotherapy, 2-dimensional conformal radiotherapy(2D-CRT), 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy(3D-CRT) and intensity modulated radiotherapy(IMRT) planning are designed.The dose conformity, uniformity index and dose sparing of organs at risk of all plans were compared.
Results The 2D-CRT plan of dose calculated depth 3.5 cm with 1∶2 dose radio of photon and 12 MeV electron beams showed better dose target coverage and uniformity with lower sparing dose of organs at risk.Compared to the 2D-CRT, conventional radiotheraphy plan could cover targetdrawn in CT slice.The IMRT plans were more preferable in achieving better dose conformity with lower sparing dose of majority organs at risk than that of the 2D-CRT and 3D-CRT.
Conclusions The 2DCRT plan of photon and electron beams mixture with depth of dose calculated 3.5 cm and 1∶2 dose radio of photon and 12 MeV electron beams may be suitable to get a better coverage and uniformity for parotid tumors postoperative radiotherapy.In practice, we recommended to use treatment planning system to select the opti-mum plan for any patient.The conventional radiotheraphy field according to anatomic marker could get a better target coverage.The IMRT plan have best conformity and uniformity with a lower sparing dose of organs at risk.The IMRT technique should be used extensively for parotid tumors postoperative radiotherapy in future.