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Methods for transferring patient and plan data between radiotherapy treatment planning systems.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bedford, JL; Oldham, M; Hoess, A; Evans, PM; Shentall, GS; Webb, S
Published in: Br J Radiol
July 1997

The effectiveness of conformal radiotherapy can ultimately only be assessed by the use of clinical trials. As large multicentre clinical trials become more widespread, methods of transferring patient and plan data between radiotherapy treatment planning systems become increasingly important. In this paper, the general strategy for the transfer of data is discussed, and also illustrated with reference to two specific systems: TARGET 2 (GE Medical Systems) and VOXELPLAN (DKFZ-Heidelberg). The transfer method involves using a computer program to translate the data formats used by each of the two systems for CT scans, patient outlines, plan information and block descriptions. This paper does not address the question of transferring beam data between systems: beam data must first be entered separately into both machines. The physical concepts encountered when transferring plans are described, with specific reference to the two planning systems used. Differences in the strategies used by the two planning systems for definition of irregular field shapes are compared. The dose calculations used by the two systems are also briefly evaluated. Isodoses produced by VOXELPLAN around a circular target volume are found to be up to 3 mm different in location to those produced by TARGET 2, owing to the use of a smooth field shape contour as opposed to a stepped field shape which closely models the leaves of a multileaf collimator. In general, dose distributions generated by both systems are comparable, but some differences are found in the presence of large tissue inhomogeneities. It is concluded that the transfer of patient and plan data between two different treatment planning systems is feasible, provided that any differences in field shape definition methods or dose calculation methods between the two systems are understood.

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Published In

Br J Radiol

DOI

ISSN

0007-1285

Publication Date

July 1997

Volume

70

Issue

835

Start / End Page

740 / 749

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Software
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Radiometry
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Bedford, J. L., Oldham, M., Hoess, A., Evans, P. M., Shentall, G. S., & Webb, S. (1997). Methods for transferring patient and plan data between radiotherapy treatment planning systems. Br J Radiol, 70(835), 740–749. https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.70.835.9245886
Bedford, J. L., M. Oldham, A. Hoess, P. M. Evans, G. S. Shentall, and S. Webb. “Methods for transferring patient and plan data between radiotherapy treatment planning systems.Br J Radiol 70, no. 835 (July 1997): 740–49. https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.70.835.9245886.
Bedford JL, Oldham M, Hoess A, Evans PM, Shentall GS, Webb S. Methods for transferring patient and plan data between radiotherapy treatment planning systems. Br J Radiol. 1997 Jul;70(835):740–9.
Bedford, J. L., et al. “Methods for transferring patient and plan data between radiotherapy treatment planning systems.Br J Radiol, vol. 70, no. 835, July 1997, pp. 740–49. Pubmed, doi:10.1259/bjr.70.835.9245886.
Bedford JL, Oldham M, Hoess A, Evans PM, Shentall GS, Webb S. Methods for transferring patient and plan data between radiotherapy treatment planning systems. Br J Radiol. 1997 Jul;70(835):740–749.

Published In

Br J Radiol

DOI

ISSN

0007-1285

Publication Date

July 1997

Volume

70

Issue

835

Start / End Page

740 / 749

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Software
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Radiometry
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Humans