Title

A prospective evaluation of helical tomotherapy

Authors

Glenn BaumanFollow
Slav YartsevFollow
George Rodrigues, University of Western OntarioFollow
Craig LewisFollow
Varagur Venkatesan, University of Western OntarioFollow
Edward Yu, University of Western OntarioFollow
Alex Hammond, University of Western OntarioFollow
Francisco Perera, University of Western OntarioFollow
Robert Ash
R. Dar, University of Western OntarioFollow
Michael Lock, University of Western OntarioFollow
Laura Baily
Terry Coad
Kris Trenka
Barbara Warr
Tomas Kron
Jerry J. Battista Dr., University of Western OntarioFollow
Jacob Van Dyk, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2007

Journal

International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics

Volume

68

Issue

2

First Page

632

Last Page

641

URL with Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.11.052

Abstract

PURPOSE: To report results from two clinical trials evaluating helical tomotherapy (HT).

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients were enrolled in one of two prospective trials of HT (one for palliative and one for radical treatment). Both an HT plan and a companion three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) plan were generated. Pretreatment megavoltage computed tomography was used for daily image guidance.

RESULTS: From September 2004 to January 2006, a total of 61 sites in 60 patients were treated. In all but one case, a clinically acceptable tomotherapy plan for treatment was generated. Helical tomotherapy plans were subjectively equivalent or superior to 3D-CRT in 95% of plans. Helical tomotherapy was deemed equivalent or superior in two thirds of dose-volume point comparisons. In cases of inferiority, differences were either clinically insignificant and/or reflected deliberate tradeoffs to optimize the HT plan. Overall imaging and treatment time (median) was 27 min (range, 16-91 min). According to a patient questionnaire, 78% of patients were satisfied to very satisfied with the treatment process.

CONCLUSIONS: Helical tomotherapy demonstrated clear advantages over conventional 3D-CRT in this diverse patient group. The prospective trials were helpful in deploying this technology in a busy clinical setting.