Comparison of treatment plans for patients with high-grade brain tumors using two different treatment planning systems in radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective:

To compare treatment plans created using the Eclipse and Prowess treatment planning systems for patients diagnosed with high-grade brain tumors in the left temporal lobe and to evaluate target volume coverage and doses delivered to critical organs using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) technique.

Materials and Methods:

This retrospective comparative planning study included 15 patients. Plans were created on CT images using step-and-shoot IMRT with 6 MV photons. Eclipse used the Pencil Beam Convolution (PBC) algorithm, while Prowess used the Collapsed Cone Convolution (CCCS) algorithm. A total dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions was prescribed. Dosimetric parameters were analyzed statistically.

Results:

Both TPSs achieved comparable target coverage, with no significant differences in conformity and homogeneity indices (p = 0.075 and p = 0.590, respectively) or dose–volume parameters (D95, D98, D2; p > 0.05). Eclipse provided significantly lower doses to the ipsilateral lens, brainstem, left optic nerve, cochlea, and whole brain V40 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Both TPSs demonstrated adequate target coverage; however, Eclipse achieved statistically significant dose reductions in several critical structures, which may have clinical relevance in reducing toxicity risk.