Study of the different parameters affecting the quality of radiotherapy treatment planning of breast cancer patients

ELAMERY, ASMAA; Al Saeed, Aziza; Saleh, Safaa; Abouelenein, Hassan

doi:10.21608/ijtar.2025.349841.1106

Study of the different parameters affecting the quality of radiotherapy treatment planning of breast cancer patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Medical physicist, Oncology Institute Sohag, Egypt.

² Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Girls Branch, P.O Box 11884, Cairo, Egypt

³ Department of Radiotherapy, Saudi German Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ijtar.2025.349841.1106

Abstract

Radiotherapy is an important part of management of breast cancer patients. Research into technique improvement and radiotherapy delivery will continue to improve breast cancer management.to improve the delivery of radiotherapy for patients with breast cancer by making analysis of the influence of treatment parameters like treatment techniques, number of beams, PTV coverage, and doses to lung and heart.The study included 409 female patients diagnosed with breast cancer and treated at Sohag cancer institute, from 2019 to 2021. All patients underwent surgery were included. A CT-simulation was performed then PTV was defined. The 3D-CRT or IMRT plans were generated. Treatment parameters as treatment techniques, number of beams, and PTV coverage were analyzed.
Larger target volumes necessitate a higher number of beams. Treatment modality significantly affects PTV coverage. The mean PTV coverage of 3D, IMRT and DIMRT treatment is 93.5, 95.3 and 95.7 respectively. Coverage of PTV and the different angles seem to be very weakly correlated. Higher PTV coverage results in better conformity index and sparing of organs at risk. Treatment angles may play a minor role in cardiac sparing.
IMRT is the best modality for large-volume breast cancer, as it shows the highest PTV coverage and the lowest critical organ mean doses. For the small volume chest wall, the 3DCRT can achieve the objectives of the radiotherapy treatment planning. For complex treatment plans where PTV has a large and concave volume, DIMRT is the best technique.

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