Efficacy of Daily Cone-Beam Computed Tomography as Part of a Rescan Protocol for Large Offset to Reduce the Inter-Fractional Motion of the Prostate

摘要

Purpose: To prospectively analyze the inter-fractional motion of the prostate in patients with prostate cancer treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) with daily cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) as part of a rescan protocol for large offset, and to evaluate the efficacy of our protocol. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients were treated with the following protocol: 1) magnesium oxide and dimethylpolysiloxane were administered to ensure that patients had regular bowel movements;2) the patients were instructed to have an appropriately distended bladder during the planning CT and daily irradiation;3) the daily CBCT image was fused with the planning CT image using the prostate outline;and 4) if large offset was recognized, a rescan CBCT image was obtained after appropriate countermeasures, such as the discharge of gas and defecation, and re-registration was performed. Three shifts for the inter-fractional motion of the prostate were analyzed, in the fractions which needed the CBCT rescan;the displacement data after the final rescan were used. Results: Sixty-one patients were eligible, and a total of 2302 fractions were available for the analysis. Rescans of the CBCT for large offset were performed in 113 (5%) of the 2302 fractions. After the first rescan, the large offset was resolved in 106 (94%) of the 113 fractions. Excessive rectal gas was the reason for the large offset in 94 (83%) of the 113 fractions. The total mean and standard deviation of the inter-fractional motion of the prostate in the AP, LR, and SI directions were 1.1 ± 2.4, -0.1 ± 2.3, and 0.7 ± 3.0 mm, respectively. Conclusion: Large offset was recognized in 5% of all fractions. Daily CBCT with our rescan protocol could resolve the large offset, which was mainly caused by excessive rectal gas, and it may therefore be promising to reduce the inter-fractional motion of the prostate.