The comparison of hybrid techniques having different weights of İMRT or vmat component with 3D-conformal radiotherapy in patients with lung cancer in close proximity to vertebtal coloumn

Aim: To compare four different hybrid techniques with 3D-CRT (3D-conformal RT) in terms of lung dose-volume parameters and PTV dose HI (homogeneity index) and TC (target coverage) in patients with lung cancer in close proximity to vertebral coloumn. Method: In this study, CT-simulator cross-sectional images of eight male patients were obtained from the TPS (treatment planning system) data archive of Department of Radiation Oncology, DEU Medical Faculty. Conformal plans were prepared using 6-10-15 MV-X photon energies while IMRT (intensity modulated radiation therapy) and VMAT (volumetric modulated arc therapy) plans of hybrid techniques were prepared using 6MV-X photon energy. Four hybrid techniques were developed having 2 different ratios (10% and 50%) of IMRT/VMAT component (h-YART1, h-YART2 and h-VMAT1, h-VMAT2, respectively). Hybrid techniques were compared with 3D-CRT in terms of HI and TC for PTV, and total and contralateral V5Gy, V10Gy, V20Gy and mean dose parameters for lungs. Parameters obtained from dose-volume histograms formed in TPS were analyzed using SPSS 15,0 statistics program. Friedman Test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test were performed in the comparison of five different techniques together and paired comparisons , respectively. Results: In the paired comparisons of hybrid techniques with 3D-CRT, all hybrid techniques were found advantageous for HI and TC (p=0.012 for all comparisons), while disadvantageous for total and contralateral lung V5Gy parameter (p=0.012 for all comparisons). H-VMAT techniques seem to be superior to their equivalent weighted h-IMRT counterparts in terms of HI and TC. The ratio of IMRT/VMAT component's being 50% instead of 10% decreases total and contralateal lung V5Gy values in hybrid techniques. . Conclusion: When hybrid techniques combining 3D-CRT and IMRT/VMAT have to be used in the RT of lung tumors in close proximity to vertebral coloumn, it may be appropriate to suggest a ratio of IMRT/VMAT component no more than 10% in order to decrease the lung volume exposed to low doses and also to limit the "motion interplay" effect as well as problems related with small field dosimetry in IMRT/VMAT.