Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39969029›Full record

ArticleJournal of applied clinical medical physics2025

Evaluating the use of diagnostic CT with flattening filter free beams for palliative radiotherapy: Dosimetric impact of scanner calibration variability.

Madeleine L Van de Kleut, Lesley A Buckley, Elsayed S M Ali

Abstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Madeleine L Van de KleutDepartment of Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada.
Lesley A BuckleyDepartment of Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7373-6420
Elsayed S M AliDepartment of Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePalliative radiotherapy comprises a significant portion of the radiation treatment workload. Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) improves dose conformity and, in conjunction with flattening filter free (FFF) delivery, can decrease treatment times, both of which are desirable in a population with a high probability of retreatment with large palliative doses per fraction. Combining FFF and VMAT delivery with planning based on previously acquired diagnostic computed tomography (CT) scans has the potential to further expedite palliative treatment. This study evaluated the dosimetric uncertainty of using FFF beams with VMAT delivery on CT images acquired from different diagnostic vendors, and between different x-ray tube energies, in the palliative setting.

methodsCT-relative electron density (CT-RED) curves were acquired for the local CT simulator at 100, 120, and 140 kVp, and for two diagnostic CT scanners at 120 kVp. Thirty palliative VMAT plans were recalculated for each CT-RED curve, with 6 MV flat, 6 FFF, and 10 FFF beams. The doses to 95% and 2% of the PTV, the maximum point dose to the spinal canal and esophagus, and the mean dose to the kidneys were compared between recalculated plans.

resultsComparing the dose clouds for a given fluence map calculated with CT-RED curves from different CT scanners at 120 kVp, the mean dose difference was at most 0.3% for each DVH metric. Similar results were reported when comparing dose clouds calculated with CT-RED curves for 100, 120, and 140 kVp on the CT simulator.

conclusionThe results of this study confirm that diagnostic scans acquired on machines different from the CT simulator associated with the TPS, are appropriate for VMAT treatment planning in the palliative setting with FFF photon beams.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsPalliative CarePhantoms, ImagingRadiotherapy, Intensity-ModulatedRadiotherapy Planning, Computer-AssistedTomography, X-Ray ComputedCalibrationHumansOrgans at RiskRadiometryRadiotherapy DosageCT‐RED curvediagnostic CTflattening filter freeHounsfield unitpalliative radiotherapyvolumetric‐modulated arc therapy

Identifiers

PMID39969029
PMCPMC12148778

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.