Advanced Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Optimization

• US 20130217948A1
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rhode Island Hospital
• Original Assignee: Rhode Island Hospital
• Inventors: Mihaylov, Ivaylo B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,254,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1031 using a specific method of dose optimization

Abstract

A method of radiotherapy treatment planning is described. A planned target volume is identified for radiotherapy treatment and at least one volume of interest is identified. The mass, density, and total deposited energy contained in the planned target volume and the volumes of interest are identified and dose objectives are determined. At least one of the objectives is a function of the identified mass, density, or deposited energy. A composite objective function is determined using the dose objectives for the planned target volume and the volumes of interest. A near optimal solution to the composite objective function is determined to produce a radiotherapy treatment plan.

Claims

1. A method of radiotherapy treatment planning, comprising:

identifying a planned target volume for radiotherapy treatment;

identifying at least one volume of interest;

identifying the mass contained in at least one of the planned target volume and the at least one volume of interest;

determining at least one dose constraint for the planned target volume;

determining at least one dose constraint for the at least one volume of interest;

wherein at least one of the at least one dose constraint for the planned target volume and the at least one dose constraint for the at least one volume of interest is a function of mass;

determining a composite objective function using the at least one dose constraint for the planned target volume, and the at least one dose constraint of the at least one volume of interest; and

determining a near optimal solution to the composite objective function to produce a radiotherapy treatment plan.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the function of mass is:

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the function of mass is:

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the function of mass is:

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the function of density is:

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiotherapy treatment plan includes using one of:

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, Four Dimensional, Adaptive, Real Time Adaptive, Charged Particle Modulated Therapy, Image Guided Radiation Therapy or Energy Modulation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiotherapy treatment plan includes using one of:

Four Dimensional Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, Four Dimensional Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, or Four Dimensional Intensity Modulated Charged Particle Therapy.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiotherapy treatment plan includes using one of:

Adaptive Four Dimensional Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, Adaptive Four Dimensional Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, or Adaptive Four Dimensional Intensity Modulated Charged Particle Therapy.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiotherapy treatment plan includes using one of energy modulation for:

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, Four Dimensional Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, Four Dimensional Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, Adaptive Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, Adaptive Four Dimensional Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, Adaptive Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, Adaptive Four Dimensional Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, Real Time Adaptive Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, Real Time Adaptive Four Dimensional Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, Real Time Adaptive Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, or Real Time Adaptive Four Dimensional Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiotherapy treatment plan includes using one of:

Real Time Adaptive Four Dimensional Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, Real Time Adaptive Four Dimensional Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, or Real Time Adaptive Four Dimensional Intensity Modulated Charged Particle Therapy.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the function of mass is determined from density.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the near optimal solution is a clinically acceptable solution.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the planned target volume contains at least a portion of a tumor.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one volume of interest contains at least a portion of:

an organ at risk or an anatomical structure of interest.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the planned target volume contains at least a portion of:

lung, prostrate, head-and-neck, intestine, pancreas, liver, kidney, brain, bone, breast, cervix, colon or thyroid.

16. A non-transient computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to:

receive data describing a planned target volume for radiotherapy treatment;

receive data describing at least one volume of interest;

receive data describing the mass contained in at least one of the planned target volume and the at least one volume of interest;

receive data describing at least one dose constraint for the planned target volume;

receive data describing at least one dose constraint for the at least one volume of interest;

wherein at least one of the at least one dose constraint for the planned target volume and the at least one dose constraint for the at least one volume of interest is a function of mass;

determine a composite objective function using the at least one dose constraint for the planned target volume, and the at least one dose constraint of the at least one volume of interest; and

determine a near optimal solution to the composite objective function to produce a radiotherapy treatment plan.

17. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the function of mass is:

18. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the function of density is:

19. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the function of mass is:

20. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the function of mass is:

21. A system for radiation treatment planning comprising:

an input module for specifying input parameters;

wherein the input parameters comprise;

a planned target volume, at least one volume of interest, mass contained in at least one of the planned target volume and the at least one volume of interest, at least one dose constraint for the planned target volume, and at least one dose constraint for the at least one volume of interest;

wherein at least one of the at least one dose constraint for the planned target volume and the at least one dose constraint for the at least one volume of interest is a function of mass; and

a processor configured to determine a composite objective function using the input parameters and to determine a near optimal solution to the composite objective function for the production of a radiotherapy treatment plan.