The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Eclipse’s beam angle optimiser (BAO) for three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy planning.

Eleven 3D conformal lung plans, with varied tumour volumes, were retrospectively studied. For each clinical plan, a BAO plan was produced and then optimised by an experienced planner. Plan quality was assessed using International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU)-83 and  Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) recommended dose reporting metrics for dose volume prescribing and reporting.

Differences in dose volume histograms for both methods showed no clinical significance. Planning target volume Dmax for both plans was comparable and within ICRU guidelines. Reported spinal cord Dmax and the doses to 33% and 67% volume of the heart were within the RTOG recommended limits. Mean lung V20 values for BAO and non-BAO plans were 20 and 16%, respectively. The average monitor units for the BAO plans were about 11% lower. The conformity and homogeneity indices were within the acceptable range for both cases. On average, it took 23 minutes to plan using the BAO compared to 68 minutes for the non-BAO plans.

Eclipse BAO shows the potential to produce good quality conformal plans and reduce planning time. This process could be further refined with multi-leaf collimator and optimal collimator angle options.