Automated noncoplanar treatment planning strategy in stereotactic radiosurgery of multiple cranial metastases: HyperArc and CyberKnife dose distributions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the dosimetric effects of HyperArc-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and a robotic radiosurgery system-based planning using CyberKnife for multiple cranial metastases. In total, 11 cancer patients with multiple cranial metastases (3 to 5 tumors) treated with CyberKnife were examined. These patients were replanned using HyperArc (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, USA). HyperArc plan were designed using 4 noncoplanar arc single-isocenter VMAT in 6 MV flattening filter free mode for simulated delivery with the True beam STx (Varian). The prescription dose was 23 Gy at single fraction. Dosimetric differences and blinded clinician scoring differences were evaluated. Conformity index (CI) and gradient index (GI) were 0.60 ± 0.11 and 3.94 ± 0.74, respectively, for the CyberKnife plan and 0.87 ± 0.08 and 5.31 ± 1.42, respectively, for the HyperArc plan (p < 0.05). Total brain V12-gross tumor volumes (GTVs) for the CyberKnife and HyperArc plans were 5.26 ± 2.83 and 4.02 ± 1.71 cm³, respectively. These results indicate that HyperArc plan showed better CI and total brain V12-GTV, while CyberKnife plan showed better GI. A blinded physician scoring evaluation did not show significant differences between CyberKnife and HyperArc plans. The HyperArc-based SRS plan is comparable with the CyberKnife plan, suggesting a greater potential to emerge as a suitable tool for SRS of multiple brain metastases.

Keywords: Brain metastases; Cyberknife; Noncoplanar treatment planning; Radiotherapy; Stereotactic radiosurgery.