Impact of pelvic rotational setup error on lymph nodal dose in whole pelvic IMRT using fiducial markers

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of pelvic rotational setup error on lymph nodal dose in the whole pelvic intensity-modulated radiation therapy using the fiducial marker. The dose differences of clinical target volume for pelvic lymph node (CTV_LN) due to isocenter (IC) shift and pelvic rotation were evaluated using the radiation treatment planning system. The rotated computed tomography (CT) images were created for the simulation of the pelvic rotation. The original CT images were rotated around the IC of the original plan in the pitch and roll directions up to ±3.0deg. at 1.0deg. intervals. As simulated plans, IC positions were shifted in the anterior-posterior and superior-inferior directions up to ±10 mm at 2 mm intervals in the original and rotated CT images, and the dose distributions were calculated. The dose calculation was performed for each CT image while keeping the movement of multi leaf collimator and the monitor unit of the original plan. The differences between D_98% of CTV_LN in the original plan and simulated plans were calculated. In the posterior direction shifts of 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm, the dose reduction of 0.7, 2.1, 6.1, and 11.9% from the original plan were found for D_98% of CTV_LN, respectively. The dose reductions due to the rotation of pitch direction were greater than the rotation of roll direction. In the posterior direction shifts of 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm with 3.0deg. rotation of pitch direction, the dose reduction of 2,2, 6.8, 12.8, and 19.0% from the original plan were found, respectively. The dose reduction of CTV_LN might be occurred due to the rotational setup error of pitch direction. (author)