Chin Med J (Taipei) 1998;61:S63.

CT Virtual Simulation and 3D Treatment Planning for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: The Experience in Veterans General Hospital - Taipei

Cheng-Ying Shiau, Yu-Ming Liu, Yuh-Lin Lee, Kuang-Wei Huang, Liung S. Chao, Le-Jung Wu, Sheng Y. Chen, Ling-Wei Wang, Mien-Jung Liang, Kwan-Hwa Chi, Sang-Hue Yen

Cancer Center, Veterans General Hospital - Taipei

Abstract

In June 1996, an integrated 3D radiation therapy planning system (RTPS) was setup at Cancer Center, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei (VGH-Tp). The integrated 3D RTPS consists of three main components: 1) a dedicated spiral computer tomography scanner for volumetric acquisition of images; 2) workstations for virtual simulation and 3-dimensional dose calculation; and 3) a local area network for fast data transfer via DICOM (Digital Image Communication of Medicine) protocol. This 3D RTPS has been applied to various cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), brain tumors, ung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, prostate cancer and etc. This presentation focuses mainly on the treatment planning of NPC.

After several modification in the first two years of 3D-RTPS at VGH-Tp, the current procedure of 3D RTP of NPC is as follows: 1) making of an immobilization mask; 2) a conventional simulation for quality assurance (QA) of the mask, preliminary alignment and localization of reference point; 3) QA procedure of CT scanning; 4) acquisition and transfer of images; 5) image registration; 6) virtual simulation and 3D treatment planning; 7) plan review and approval; 8) verification simulation and 9) delivery of treatment.

There are three main types of 3D treatment planning for NPC in VGH-Tp: 1) for boost irradiation, 2) initial planning for anterior/superior extension and 3) initial planning to reduce parotid gland irradiation. Detail of these 3 types of treatment planning will be discussed in the presentation. The VGH-Tp's experience of 3D RTPS, including tips and wish lists, will be presented too.

[Chin Med J (Taipei) 1998;61:S63.]