Clinical experience with a 3D surface patient setup system for alignment of partial-breast irradiation patients

Bert, Christoph; Metheany, Katherine G.; Doppke, Karen P.; Taghian, Alphonse G.; Powell, Simon N.; Chen, George T.Y.

doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2005.11.008

« Previous Next »International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics
Volume 64, Issue 4 , Pages 1265-1274, 15 March 2006

Clinical experience with a 3D surface patient setup system for alignment of partial-breast irradiation patients

This paper was presented at the 46th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), October 3–7, 2004, Atlanta, GA.

Christoph Bert, M.S.
- Abteilung Biophysik, Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- C.B. received a scholarship (“Doktorandenkurzstipendium”) from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
- Reprint requests to: Christoph Bert, M.S., GSI, Biophysik, Planckstr. 1, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany. Tel: (+49) 6159-71-2947; Fax: (+49) 6159-71-2106
Katherine G. Metheany, B.S.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Karen P. Doppke, M.S.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Alphonse G. Taghian, M.D., Ph.D.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Simon N. Powell, M.D., Ph.D.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
George T.Y. Chen, Ph.D.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Received 8 August 2005; received in revised form 2 November 2005; accepted 3 November 2005.

Purpose: To assess the utility of surface imaging on patient setup for accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI).

Methods and Material: A photogrammetry system was used in parallel to APBI setup by laser and portal imaging. Surface data were acquired after laser and port-film setup for 9 patients. Surfaces were analyzed in comparison to a reference surface from the first treatment session by use of rigid transformations. The surface model after laser setup was used in a simulated photogrammetry setup procedure. In addition, breathing data were acquired by surface acquisition at a frame rate of 7 Hz.

Results: Mean 3D displacement was 7.3 mm (SD, 4.4 mm) and 7.6 mm (SD, 4.2 mm) for laser and port film, respectively. Simulated setup with the photogrammetry system yielded mean displacement of 1 mm (SD, 1.2 mm). Distance analysis resulted in mean distances of 3.7 mm (SD, 4.9 mm), 4.3 mm (SD, 5.6 mm), and 1.6 mm (SD, 2.4 mm) for laser, port film, and photogrammetry, respectively. Breathing motion at isocenter was smaller than 3.7 mm, with a mean of 1.9 mm (SD, 1.1 mm).

Conclusions: Surface imaging for PBI setup appears promising. Alignment of the 3D breast surface achieved by stereo-photogrammetry shows greater breast topology congruence than when patients are set up by laser or portal imaging. A correlation of breast surface and CTV must be quantitatively established.

Keywords: Partial-breast irradiation setup , Surface imaging , Radiotherapy