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The effect of carbon fibre treatment couch with and without immobilisation devices on radiotherapy dose calculation using three different planning algorithms and photon beam energies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2021

Y. Oulhouq Open the ORCID record for Y. Oulhouq [Opens in a new window] ,
A. Rrhioua ,
D. Bakari ,
M. Zerfaoui  and
D. Krim
Y. Oulhouq*
Affiliation:
LPMR, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed 1st, Oujda, Morocco HASSAN II Oncology Center, University Hospital Mohammed VI, Oujda, Morocco
A. Rrhioua
Affiliation:
LPMR, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed 1st, Oujda, Morocco
D. Bakari
Affiliation:
National School of Applied Sciences, University Mohamed 1st, Oujda, Morocco
M. Zerfaoui
Affiliation:
LPMR, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed 1st, Oujda, Morocco
D. Krim
Affiliation:
LPMR, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed 1st, Oujda, Morocco
*
Author for correspondence: Yassine Oulhouq, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohammed First, OujdaMorocco. E-mail: oulhouq.y@gmail.com
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Abstract

Introduction:

The objective of radiotherapy immobilisation devices is to improve the reproducibility of patient positioning during treatment sessions. The inclusion of these devices in the treatment protocol may increase the skin dose. In practice, these devices are not systematically taken into account in the dose calculation.

Material and methods:

In this study, the dosimetric effects of the carbon fibre couch iBEAM Evo Extension 415, with and without three different immobilisation devices (a Klarity Breastboard R610-2ECF, a Bionix Butterfly Board and CIVCO Vac-Lok vacuum bag), were calculated and evaluated on the dose calculation for conformal three-dimensional radiation therapy. The measurements were carried out by comparing the measured dose with the one calculated for three different algorithms, FFT convolution, fast superposition and superposition algorithms, which are implemented in Xio treatment planning system (TPS).

Results:

Dosimetric tolerance levels have been respected for specific dose calculations, which do not include the fibre couch with or without immobilisation devices. Errors of up to 8% in the dose calculation were obtained for the beams passing through the fibre couch and the breast board base support region.

Conclusion:

According to the significant attenuation differences of the beam by the fibre couch and immobilisation devices, it was concluded that ignoring the device in the dose calculation can change patient’s skin and target doses. The fibre couch and immobilisation device should be included within external body contour to account for the TPS calculation algorithms dose attenuation.

Keywords

carbon fibretreatment couchimmobilisation devicesradiotherapyTPS
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , December 2022 , pp. 501 - 505
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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