ABSTRACT
The widespread application of 3D printing and computer technologies in the medical field has opened up opportunities for digital and automated fabrication of body immobilization tools for radiotherapy, thus making it possible to get rid of the original complex manual fabrication process. As the most widely used technique for body immobilization, body membrane immobilization has always attracted much attention. This review outlines the development of the body membrane immobilization technology in different radiotherapy stages. Moreover, the advances in the application of 3D-printed body membranes were introduced, as a development direction of body immobilization technology, in the field of radiotherapy. This technology can be utilized as a reference for clinical application and research.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To compare the positioning errors of individual head-rest combined with thermoplastic fixation mask versus thermoplastic fixation mask alone in patients with head and neck tumors. Methods:Twenty-eight patients who received irradiation with helical tomotherapy in Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital) between October 2019 and April 2020 were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to receive position fixation with either individual head-rest combined with thermoplastic fixation mask (N1 group, n = 14) or thermoplastic fixation mask alone (N2 group, n = 14). Megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) scanning registration was used to obtain the positioning errors in translation and rotation (ROLL) in the left-right (X), head-food (Y), and belly-back (Z) directions. There were a total of 841 CT scans, consisting of 425 scans in group N1 and 416 scans in group N2. Results:The positioning errors in X, Y, Z and ROLL directions in the N1 group were (1.37 ± 1.04) mm, (1.38 ± 1.12) mm, (1.47 ± 1.62) mm and (1.47 ± 1.62) ° respectively, and they were (1.57 ± 1.21) mm, (2.10 ± 1.51) mm, (1.61 ± 1.50) mm and (1.40 ± 1.30) ° respectively in the N2 group. There was significant difference in positioning errors in the Y direction between N1 and N2 groups ( P = 0.013). In the N1 group, the outward expansion boundaries in X, Y and Z directions was 4.15 mm, 4.23 mm and 4.81 mm respectively, and it was 4.77, 6.31 and 5.08 mm, respectively in the N2 group. In the X direction, there was significant difference in positioning errors taking 3 mm as the dividing point between N1 and N2 groups ( χ2 = 10.516, P < 0.001). In the Y direction, there was significant difference in positioning errors taking 1, 2 and 3 mm as the dividing points between N1 and N2 groups ( χ2 = 24.889, P < 0.001; χ2 = 42.202, P < 0.001; χ2 = 46.204, P < 0.001). In the Z direction, there was significant difference in positioning errors taking 2 mm as the dividing point between N1 and N2 groups ( χ2 = 7.335, P = 0.007). In the N1 group, the percentage of positioning errors < 3 mm in the X, Y and Z directions was 92%, 90% and 92%, respectively. Conclusion:Compared with thermoplastic fixation mask alone, individual head-rest combined with thermoplastic fixation mask can better effectively improve the positioning stability and reduce positioning errors in patients receiving irradiation with helical tomotherapy for head and neck tumors. The combined method is of certain innovation.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the CTV to PTV external expansion boundary and the effect of the dose of normal lung tissue under different fixed modes by a comparative analysis of combined body position and thermoplastic film fixed set-up error of radiation therapy for lung cancer. Methods From October 2016 to March 2018, the patients who received chest radiology at the Tangshan people's hospital were enrolled as subjects retrospectively divided into two groups, including 50 patients with lung cancer radiotherapy with combined body position fixation, and 40 patients with lung cancer with thermoplastic film fixation. The two groups of patients drew the target areas in accordance with the unified standard, and the set-up error of left and right, up and down, front and rear ( x, y, z axis) were recorded respectively after 1 time/week cone CT( CBCT) matched with the planned CT image and analyzed by t test. According to the MPTV =2. 5Σ+0. 7δ, CTV to PTV external expansion boundary in the combined body position group were calculated. And the V5、V20 and V30 of two groups of patients were calculated and analyzed by TPS system. Results The set-up error of the combined body position group and thermoplastic film group were respectively (1. 00 ± 0. 58) mm and (3. 28 ± 0. 43) mm on the x axis, (1. 42 ± 0. 28) mm on the y axis and (4. 03 ± 0. 41) mm, (1. 06 ± 0. 44) mm and (3. 18 ± 0. 34) mm on the z axis. The set-up errors of the two groups were statistically significant on x, y and z axis( t= -20. 740, -35. 596, -25. 015,P<0. 05). There was no significant difference in set-up errors between the central and peripheral lung cancer patients and between left and right lung cancer patients(P>0. 05). Through the MPTV =2. 5Σ+0. 7δ, CTV to PTV external expansion boundary in the combined body position fixation group was 2. 906 , 3. 746 and 2. 958 mm on x, y and z axis respectively. The comparison between group A and B showed that the mean values of V5 , V20 and V30 in group B were reduced by 1. 5％, 3. 1％ and 4. 8％ respectively compared with group A. Conclusions The combined body position technique can improve the accuracy of lung cancer patients after radiation therapy,and further reduce the boundary of CTV to PTV, which is of certain value to reduce the occurrence of radiation pneumonitis.