Assessment of computed tomography simulators used in radiotherapy treatment planning in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina

doi:10.2298/NTRP201118009P

Published April 30, 2021 | Version v.1

Journal article Open

Assessment of computed tomography simulators used in radiotherapy treatment planning in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina

1. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, Novi Sad, Serbia + Oncology Institute Vojvodina, Radiotherapy department, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
2. Faculty of medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University Osijek, Osijek, Croatia + Faculty of dental medicine and health sciences, University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
3. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, Novi Sad, Serbia
4. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, Novi Sad, Serbia ; Vinča institute of nuclear sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
5. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, Novi Sad, Serbia ; Oncology Institute Vojvodina, Radiotherapy department, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
6. Faculty of medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University Osijek, Osijek, Croatia ; Clinical Medical center Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
7. Oncology Institute Vojvodina, Radiotherapy department, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia)
8. Health Center Kladovo, Kladovo Serbia
9. Clinical Center Niš, Niš, Serbia
10. Clinical center Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
11. Institute of oncology and radiology Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
12. Clinical center Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
13. University hospital center Zagreb Rebro, Zagreb, Croatia
14. University Clinical Hospital Center "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia
15. niversity hospital center Zagreb Rebro, Zagreb, Croatia
16. University clinical hospital Mostar, Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina
17. Clinical hospital center Split, Split, Croatia)
18. University Clinical center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
19. Clinical Center Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
20. International Medical Centers Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The purpose of this work was to evaluate computed tomography simulators used in radiotherapy treatment planning in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. A survey of quality assurance programmes of 24 computed tomography simulators in 16 facilities was conducted. A dedicated CT-to-ED phantoms was scanned at 120 kV and 140 kV, to obtain CT-to-ED con version curves as well as CTDI vol. Thoracal phantoms were scanned in the standard and extended field of view to evaluate the dosimetric effect on treatment planning and delivery. The mean age of the measured scanners was 5.5 years. The mean water HU value was –6.5 (all scanners, all voltages) and air HU value was –997. Extended field of view computed tomography data differ from the standard field of view and differences between conversion curves have significant dosimetric impact. The CTDI data showed a large range of values between centers. Better quality assurance of computed tomography simulators in all countries is recommended. The CT-to-ED curve could be used as default at one voltage and per manufacturer. Extended field of view imaging can be used, but treatment planning should be avoided in the regions out of the standard field of view.

Notes

This work was supported and partially funded for con ducting research by scientific grants of the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, number [114- 451-2076/2016]. Title: Incidence of unwanted cardiovascular events caused by radiotherapy of left breast cancer in Vojvodina female patients and their prevention by implementation of advanced methods of left breast radiotherapy.

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