Dose Distribution Analysis in Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Using Dynamic Conformal Multiple Arc Therapy

Purpose: We have used dynamic conformal multiple arc therapy (DCMAT) for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) since 2001. We investigated the consistency of DCMAT for SBRT using dose-volume histogram analysis. Methods and Materials: A total of 50 patients with peripheral lung tumors underwent SBRT. The median tumor diameter was 2.4 cm (range, 0.9-5.9). Treatment planning was performed using a superposition algorithm. The prescribed 50 Gy dose was divided into five fractions. The prescribed dose was defined as 80% of the maximal dose in the planning target volume (PTV), and the leaf margins were modified to ensure the PTV was included in the 80% isodose surface. The dose-volume histogram analysis was used to assess the PTV and normal lung volume. Results: The median dose covering 95% of the PTV was 50.27 Gy (range, 46.14-52.67), essentially consistent with the prescribed dose. The median homogeneity and conformity index was 1.41 (range, 1.31-1.53) and 1.73 (range, 1.41-2.21), respectively. The median volume of lung receiving ≥20 Gy (V₂₀) was 4.2% (range, 1.4-10.2%). A linear correlation was found between the tumor diameter and V₂₀, and an even stronger correlation was found between the PTV/(normal lung volume) and V₂₀. The estimated V₂₀ was 7.1% (range, 3.9-10.4%) for a 5-cm-diameter tumor, assumed to be the maximal size limitation for SBRT. Conclusion: SBRT with DCMAT achieved high conformity and delivered adequate doses within the PTV. The median dose covering 95% of the PTV was consistent with the prescribed dose. V₂₀ can be estimated using the tumor diameter and normal lung volume. DCMAT was thus both a feasible and a reproducible method of SBRT delivery.