Knowledge‐based intensity‐modulated radiotherapy plans for cervical cancer with overlap volume of target and organs at risk

Abstract

Abstract Objective To compare the differences in the dose‐volume histograms between knowledge‐based intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (K‐IMRT) plans and conventional IMRT (C‐IMRT) plans of 20 patients with cervical cancer. Methods A total of 70 cervical cancer patients were selected in the present study. Of these, 60 patients were selected randomly as a model group. The remaining 10 patients with overlap volume of target and organs at risk were categorized as group E1 for open‐loop verification. A total of 10 patients from the model group were selected randomly as group E2 for closed‐loop verification. Results The dose parameters of the target in the K‐IMRT and C‐IMRT plans showed no significant difference. The maximum dose and homogeneity index of group E2 showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) in their K‐IMRT and C‐IMRT plans. The dose parameters in the K‐IMRT plans of organs at risk were superior to those in the C‐IMRT plans. For group E1, V20 of the rectum, and V15, V20, and V25 of the left and right femoral heads in the K‐IMRT plans decreased as compared with those in the C‐IMRT plans (P < 0.05). For group E2, V25, V30, V35, and D50 of the bladder; V25 and V30 of the rectum; and V15, V20, and V25 of the left and right femoral heads in the K‐IMRT plans decreased as compared with those in the C‐IMRT plans (P < 0.05). Conclusion It is feasible to optimize the IMRT plans for cervical cancer patients with the overlap volume of the target and organs at risk using knowledge‐based radiation treatment automatically.

Keywords

• cervical cancer
• dose
• intensity‐modulated radiotherapy
• knowledge‐based model