Comparison of two beam angular optimization algorithms guided by automated multicriterial IMRT.

PURPOSE To compare two beam angle optimization (BAO) algorithms for coplanar and non-coplanar geometries in a multicriterial optimization framework. METHODS 40 nasopharynx patients were selected for this retrospective planning study. IMRT optimized plans were produced by Erasmus-iCycle multicriterial optimization platform. Two different algorithms, based on a discrete and on a continuous exploration of the space search, algorithm i and B respectively, were used to address BAO. Plan quality evaluation and comparison were performed with SPIDERplan. Statistically significant differences between the plans were also assessed. RESULTS For plans using only coplanar incidences, the optimized beam distribution with algorithm i is more asymmetric than with algorithm B. For non-coplanar beam optimization, larger deviations from coplanarity were obtained with algorithm i than with algorithm B. Globally, both algorithms presented near equivalent plan quality scores, with algorithm B presenting a marginally better performance than algorithm i. CONCLUSION Almost all plans presented high quality, profiting from multicriterial and beam angular optimization. Although there were not significant differences when average results over the entire sample were considered, a case-by-case analysis revealed important differences for some patients.

[1]  Jan Unkelbach,et al.  Accelerated iterative beam angle selection in IMRT. , 2016, Medical physics.

[2]  S. Webb.  Optimisation of conformal radiotherapy dose distributions by simulated annealing. , 1989, Physics in medicine and biology.

[3]  Tiago Ventura,et al.  A derivative-free multistart framework for an automated noncoplanar beam angle optimization in IMRT. , 2016, Medical physics.

[4]  Sebastiaan Breedveld,et al.  A novel approach to multi-criteria inverse planning for IMRT , 2007, Physics in medicine and biology.

[5]  Tiago Ventura,et al.  Beam angle optimization in IMRT: are we really optimizing what matters? , 2018, Int. Trans. Oper. Res..

[6]  P. Storchi,et al.  The equivalence of multi-criteria methods for radiotherapy plan optimization , 2009, Physics in medicine and biology.

[7]  L. Xing,et al.  Pseudo beam's-eye-view as applied to beam orientation selection in intensity-modulated radiation therapy. , 2001, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[8]  T. Bortfeld,et al.  Optimization of beam orientations in radiation therapy: some theoretical considerations. , 1993, Physics in medicine and biology.

[9]  S. Spirou,et al.  A gradient inverse planning algorithm with dose-volume constraints. , 1998, Medical physics.

[10]  Radhe Mohan,et al.  Iterative solution methods for beam angle and fluence map optimization in intensity modulated radiation therapy planning , 2008, OR Spectr..

[11]  B. Ferreira,et al.  SPIDERplan: A tool to support decision-making in radiation therapy treatment plan assessment. , 2016, Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy : journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation Oncology.

[12]  Maria do Carmo Lopes,et al.  Simulated annealing applied to IMRT beam angle optimization: A computational study. , 2015, Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics.

[13]  Valentina Cacchiani,et al.  A hybrid approach to beam angle optimization in intensity-modulated radiation therapy , 2013, Comput. Oper. Res..

[14]  L B Marks,et al.  Selection of coplanar or noncoplanar beams using three-dimensional optimization based on maximum beam separation and minimized nontarget irradiation. , 1997, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[15]  D. Craft.  Local beam angle optimization with linear programming and gradient search , 2007, Physics in medicine and biology.

[16]  Maria do Carmo Lopes,et al.  A genetic algorithm with neural network fitness function evaluation for IMRT beam angle optimization , 2014, Central Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[17]  Kalyanmoy Deb,et al.  Multiobjective optimization , 1997 .

[18]  Yin Zhang,et al.  Dose-volume-based IMRT fluence optimization: A fast least-squares approach with differentiability , 2008 .

[19]  Thomas Bortfeld,et al.  A modular approach to intensity-modulated arc therapy optimization with noncoplanar trajectories , 2015, Physics in medicine and biology.

[20]  Arvind Kumar,et al.  Neighborhood search approaches to beam orientation optimization in intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment planning , 2008, J. Glob. Optim..

[21]  Kim Fung Man,et al.  Multiobjective Optimization , 2011, IEEE Microwave Magazine.

[22]  Gino J. Lim,et al.  A two-phase method for selecting IMRT treatment beam angles: Branch-and-Prune and local neighborhood search , 2012, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[23]  Fernando Alonso,et al.  A new concept for interactive radiotherapy planning with multicriteria optimization: first clinical evaluation. , 2007, Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

[24]  Ben J M Heijmen,et al.  iCycle: Integrated, multicriterial beam angle, and profile optimization for generation of coplanar and noncoplanar IMRT plans. , 2012, Medical physics.

[25]  Humberto Rocha,et al.  Incorporating minimum Frobenius norm models in direct search , 2010, Comput. Optim. Appl..

[26]  T. Bortfeld,et al.  Number and orientations of beams in intensity-modulated radiation treatments. , 1997, Medical physics.

[27]  Humberto Rocha,et al.  Beam angle optimization for intensity-modulated radiation therapy using a guided pattern search method , 2013, Physics in medicine and biology.

[28]  M. Ehrgott,et al.  Beam selection in radiotherapy design , 2008 .