Comparison of CT based-CTV plan and CT based-ICRU38 plan in Brachytherapy Planning of Uterine Cervix Cancer

자궁경부암 강내조사 시 CT를 이용한 CTV에 근거한 치료계획과 ICRU 38에 근거한 치료계획의 비교

  • Cho, Jung-Ken (Department of Radiological Science, Jeonju University) ;
  • Han, Tae-Jong (Department of Radiological Science, Jeonju University)
  • Published : 2007.09.30

Abstract

Purpose : In spite of recent remarkable improvement of diagnostic imaging modalities such as CT, MRI, and PET and radiation therapy planing systems, ICR plan of uterine cervix cancer, based on recommendation of ICRU38(2D film-based) such as Point A, is still used widely. A 3-dimensional ICR plan based on CT image provides dose-volume histogram(DVH) information of the tumor and normal tissue. In this study, we compared tumor-dose, rectal-dose and bladder-dose through an analysis of DVH between CTV plan and ICRU38 plan based on CT image. Method and Material : We analyzed 11 patients with a cervix cancer who received the ICR of Ir-192 HDR. After 40Gy of external beam radiation therapy, ICR plan was established using PLATO(Nucletron) v.14.2 planing system. CT scan was done to all the patients using CT-simulator(Ultra Z, Philips). We contoured CTV, rectum and bladder on the CT image and established CTV plan which delivers the 100% dose to CTV and ICRU plan which delivers the 100% dose to the point A. Result : The volume$(average{\pm}SD)$ of CTV, rectum and bladder in all of 11 patients is $21.8{\pm}6.6cm^3,\;60.9{\pm}25.0cm^3,\;111.6{\pm}40.1cm^3$ respectively. The volume covered by 100% isodose curve is $126.7{\pm}18.9cm^3$ in ICRU plan and $98.2{\pm}74.5cm^3$ in CTV plan(p=0.0001), respectively. In (On) ICRU planning, $22.0cm^3$ of CTV volume was not covered by 100% isodose curve in one patient whose residual tumor size is greater than 4cm, while more than 100% dose was irradiated unnecessarily to the normal organ of $62.2{\pm}4.8cm^3$ other than the tumor in the remaining 10 patients with a residual tumor less than 4cm in size. Bladder dose recommended by ICRU 38 was $90.1{\pm}21.3%$ and $68.7{\pm}26.6%$ in ICRU plan and in CTV plan respectively(p=0.001) while rectal dose recommended by ICRU 38 was $86.4{\pm}18.3%$ and $76.9{\pm}15.6%$ in ICRU plan and in CTV plan, respectively(p=0.08). Bladder and rectum maximum dose was $137.2{\pm}50.1%,\;101.1{\pm}41.8%$ in ICRU plan and $107.6{\pm}47.9%,\;86.9{\pm}30.8%$ in CTV plan, respectively. Therefore, the radiation dose to normal organ was lower in CTV plan than in ICRU plan. But the normal tissue dose was remarkably higher than a recommended dose in CTV plan in one patient whose residual tumor size was greater than 4cm. The volume of rectum receiving more than 80% isodose (V80rec) was $1.8{\pm}2.4cm^3$ in ICRU plan and $0.7{\pm}1.0cm^3$ in CTV plan(p=0.02). The volume of bladder receiving more than 80% isodose(V80bla) was $12.2{\pm}8.9cm^3$ in ICRU plan and $3.5{\pm}4.1cm^3$ in CTV plan(p=0.005). According to these parameters, CTV plan could also save more normal tissue compared to ICRU38 plan. Conclusion : An unnecessary excessive radiation dose is irradiated to normal tissues within 100% isodose area in the traditional ICRU plan in case of a small size of cervix cancer, but if we use CTV plan based on CT image, the normal tissue dose could be reduced remarkably without a compromise of tumor dose. However, in a large tumor case, we need more research on an effective 3D-planing to reduce the normal tissue dose.

최근 CT, MRI, PET등 영상진단기술 및 방사선치료계획 소프트웨어 등이 획기적으로 발전하였음에도 불구하고 자궁경부암의 강내조사는 아직까지 A점 등 ICRU 38에 근거한 치료계획을 보편적으로 사용하고 있다. CT를 이용한 3차원 강내조사 계획은 종양 및 정상조직의 선량-용적 히스토그람(DVH)에 대한 정보를 제공한다. 본 연구에서는 CT를 이용하여 표적용적(CTV)에 목표선량을 조사하는 치료계획(CTV 치료계획)과 ICRU38에 근거한 치료계획(ICRU 치료계획)을 시행하고, 각각에 대한 DVH를 분석하여 두 치료계획간의 종양선량, 직장선량, 방광선량 등을 비교하였다. Ir-192 고선량율강내치료(HDR)를 받은 11명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 강내조사 치료계획은 외부방사선치료를 일일선량 180cGy씩 4문조사(Box technique)로 약 40Gy 시행한 후 수립되었으며 모든 환자에서 CT 모의치료기를 이용한 CT가 시행되었고 치료계획은 PLATO(Nucletron) v.14.2를 이용하였다. CT 영상에 CTV, 직장, 방광 등을 도시한 후 CTV에 100%의 선량을 조사하는 치료계획 및 ICRU 38에 근거하여 A점에 100%를 조사하는 치료계획을 수립하였다. 11명 환자의 CTV 용적(평균${\pm}$표준편차)은 $21.8{\pm}26.6cm^3$, 직장 용적은 $60.9{\pm}25.0cm^3$, 방광용적은 $111.6{\pm}40.1cm^3$이었으며, 100%의 선량이 포함하는 용적은 ICRU 치료계획에서는 $126.7{\pm}18.9cm^3$, CTV 치료계획에서는 $98.2{\pm}74.5cm^3$이었다. (p=0.0001). ICRU 치료계획 시 잔류종양의 크기가 4cm 이상인 1례에서는 CTV 용적 $22.0cm^3$가 100% 등선량곡선에 포함되지 않았으며 잔류종양의 크기가 4cm 미만인 나머지 10례에서는 종양용적 이외의 정상조직 $62.2{\pm}4.8cm^3$이 불필요하게 100% 이상의 선량이 조사되었다. ICRU 38의 권고에 따른 방광선량은 ICRU 치료계획 및 CTV 치료계획에서 각각 $90.1{\pm}21.3%,\;68.7{\pm}26.6%$이었고(p=0.001), 직장선량은 $86.4{\pm}18.3%,\;76.9{\pm}15.6%$이었다(p=0.08). 방광 및 직장선량의 최대 점선량 또한 ICRU 치료계획과 CTV계획에서 각각 $137.2{\pm}50.1%$ vs $107.6{\pm}47.9%$, (p=0.008), $101.1{\pm}41.8%$ vs $86.9{\pm}30.8%$ (p=0.045) 로서 CTV 치료계획에서 정상조직에 조사되는 선량이 더 적게 나타났다. 그러나 잔류종양이 4cm 이상인 환자에서는 CTV 치료계획에서 정상조직 선량이 권고 선량보다 현저히 높게 나타났다. 방광 및 직장의 용적선량에서는 투여선량의 80% 이상을 받는 직장용적선량(V80rec)은 ICRU 치료계획 및 CTV 치료계획에서 각각 $1.8{\pm}2.4cm^3,\;0.7{\pm}1.0cm^3$(p=0.02), 방광용적선량(V80bla)은 $12.2{\pm}8.9cm^3,\;3.5{\pm}4.1cm^3$로서 역시 CTV 치료계획에서 적게 조사되었다(p=0.005). 기존의 ICRU 치료계획은 잔류종양의 크기가 작은 경우 불필요하게 정상조직에 많은 선량이 투여되기 때문에 CT를 이용한 CTV 치료계획을 적용하여 정상조직에 대한 피폭을 현저히 낮추고 잔류종양에 목표한 선량을 조사할 수 있다. 다만 잔류종양의 크기가 큰 경우에는 정상조직에 대한 조사선량을 줄이기 위한 효과적 치료계획에 대한 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

Keywords

References

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