Optimisation of conformal radiotherapy dose distribution by simulated annealing

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A method of computing the mean profiles for multi-element multiple-beam radiotherapy treatment is presented. This is applicable to the treatment planning of conformal radiotherapy using an isocentic rotation technique. The methid begins with the treatment does prescription and calculates the beam profiles rather than the reverse ''conventional'' planning technique. The method is the iterative optimisation method of simulated annealing. It is shown using published ''difficult'' clinical treatment planning problems that the high-dose region can be very precisely tailored to the tumour volume even when this has a re-entrant (concave) periphery. Simultaneously the dose can be constrained in other sensitive regions. The mathematics of the method is explained together with this implementation. the analogy of this optimisation wiht certain reconstructin problems in medical imaging is drawn and by way of experiment dose distribution ar presented in image form and beam profiles as sinograms.