A Review on the Use of Grid-Based Boltzmann Equation Solvers for Dose Calculation in External Photon Beam Treatment Planning

Kan, Monica W.K.; Yu, K.N.; Leung, LP

doi:10.1155/2013/692874

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…A more detailed and thorough description of the AXB algorithm is provided in the white paper from VMS by Failla et al (6) and in the first papers that feature the accuracy benchmarking of the original Acuros algorithm (11) and the AXB algorithm (12,24) . Kan et al (25) have provided a review article on grid‐based LBTE solvers (i.e., the AXB algorithm), which presents the results of selected earlier papers describing the validation of the AXB algorithm for clinical use, and a comprehensive review article focusing on the accuracy of the AXB algorithm by Ojala (5) covers all the published papers that incorporate the AXB algorithm.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of dose differences between two versions of Acuros XB algorithm compared to Monte Carlo simulations — the effect on clinical patient treatment planning

Ojala

Kapanen

2015

J Applied Clin Med Phys

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A commercialized implementation of linear Boltzmann transport equation solver, the Acuros XB algorithm (AXB), represents a class of most advanced type ‘c’ photon radiotherapy dose calculation algorithms. The purpose of the study was to quantify the effects of the modifications implemented in the more recent version 11 of the AXB (AXB11) compared to the first commercial implementation, version 10 of the AXB (AXB10), in various anatomical regions in clinical treatment planning. Both versions of the AXB were part of Varian's Eclipse clinical treatment planning system and treatment plans for 10 patients were created using intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric‐modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT). The plans were first created with the AXB10 and then recalculated with the AXB11 and full Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Considering the full MC simulations as reference, a DVH analysis for gross tumor and planning target volumes (GTV and PTV) and organs at risk was performed, and also 3D gamma agreement index (GAI) values within a 15% isodose region and for the PTV were determined. Although differences up to 12% in DVH analysis were seen between the MC simulations and the AXB, based on the results of this study no general conclusion can be drawn that the modifications made in the AXB11 compared to the AXB10 would imply that the dose calculation accuracy of the AXB10 would be inferior to the AXB11 in the clinical patient treatment planning. The only clear improvement with the AXB11 over the AXB10 is the dose calculation accuracy in air cavities. In general, no large deviations are present in the DVH analysis results between the two versions of the algorithm, and the results of 3D gamma analysis do not favor one or the other. Thus it may be concluded that the results of the comprehensive studies assessing the accuracy of the AXB10 may be extended to the AXB11.PACS numbers: 87.55.‐x, 87.55.D‐, 87.55.K‐, 87.55.kd, 87.55.Qr

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of dose differences between two versions of Acuros XB algorithm compared to Monte Carlo simulations — the effect on clinical patient treatment planning

Ojala

Kapanen

2015

J Applied Clin Med Phys

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“…However, due to much longer computation time, Monte‐Carlo method is not feasible for use in the clinic . Therefore, faster alternative dose calculation methods with comparable accuracy to Monte‐Carlo have been developed . One of the recently developed methods is Acuros XB Advanced Dose Calculation used in a commercially available treatment planning system, Eclipse version 13.5 (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of two dose calculation algorithms—anisotropic analytical algorithm and Acuros XB—for radiation therapy planning of canine intranasal tumors

Nagata

Pethel

2017

Vet Radiology Ultrasound

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Although anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA) and Acuros XB (AXB) are both radiation dose calculation algorithms that take into account the heterogeneity within the radiation field, Acuros XB is inherently more accurate. The purpose of this retrospective method comparison study was to compare them and evaluate the dose discrepancy within the planning target volume (PTV). Radiation therapy (RT) plans of 11 dogs with intranasal tumors treated by radiation therapy at the University of Georgia were evaluated. All dogs were planned for intensity-modulated radiation therapy using nine coplanar X-ray beams that were equally spaced, then dose calculated with anisotropic analytical algorithm. The same plan with the same monitor units was then recalculated using Acuros XB for comparisons. Each dog's planning target volume was separated into air, bone, and tissue and evaluated. The mean dose to the planning target volume estimated by Acuros XB was 1.3% lower. It was 1.4% higher for air, 3.7% lower for bone, and 0.9% lower for tissue. The volume of planning target volume covered by the prescribed dose decreased by 21% when Acuros XB was used due to increased dose heterogeneity within the planning target volume. Anisotropic analytical algorithm relatively underestimates the dose heterogeneity and relatively overestimates the dose to the bone and tissue within the planning target volume for the radiation therapy planning of canine intranasal tumors. This can be clinically significant especially if the tumor cells are present within the bone, because it may result in relative underdosing of the tumor.

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“…Kan et al 19 have provided a review article on grid-based LBTE solvers (i.e., the AXB algorithm), which presents the results of selected earlier papers describing the validation of the AXB algorithm for clinical use. The purpose of this review article is to present all the papers to date (Sep 2014) in which the AXB algorithm has been benchmarked, but also to cover such papers, where the dose distributions are solely produced by the AXB algorithm.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The accuracy of the Acuros XB algorithm in external beam radiotherapy – a comprehensive review

Ojala

2014

Int J Cancer Ther Oncol

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Review Article AbstractThe accuracy of dose calculation algorithms has been a topic of interest among the radiotherapy community throughout last decades. On one hand the advancements in computers and algorithms has improved the accuracy, but on the other hand the developments in other parts of treatment process, in treatment delivery techniques and in treatment devices have always pushed the requirements to the next level. In this review article a comprehensive overview on the accuracy of a new type 'c' dose calculation algorithm, the Acuros XB (AXB) algorithm (Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA), is provided. All the articles that have applied the AXB algorithm in terms of external beam radiotherapy are included and the research frames with reported deviations to reference methods are described. For the homogeneous water phantoms the reported accuracy was from 1% to 2%, being of similar level for heterogeneous phantoms, in rare occasions lower. In anthropometric and anthropomorphic phantoms the mean deviations were about 2% and slightly larger for single points and/or small regions. With patient plans the reported average discrepancies were less than from 3% to 5%. Almost without exceptions, the algorithm has proven to perform better than other existing commercial dose calculation algorithms. The number of such papers, in which the AXB algorithm is the only dose determination method, is already notable, which indicates that the accuracy of the algorithm is trusted for reference use and it also, with reported dosimetric results, implies that the AXB algorithm has reached its maturity.

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A Review on the Use of Grid-Based Boltzmann Equation Solvers for Dose Calculation in External Photon Beam Treatment Planning

Cited by 19 publications

References 50 publications

Quantification of dose differences between two versions of Acuros XB algorithm compared to Monte Carlo simulations — the effect on clinical patient treatment planning

Quantification of dose differences between two versions of Acuros XB algorithm compared to Monte Carlo simulations — the effect on clinical patient treatment planning

A comparison of two dose calculation algorithms—anisotropic analytical algorithm and Acuros XB—for radiation therapy planning of canine intranasal tumors

The accuracy of the Acuros XB algorithm in external beam radiotherapy – a comprehensive review

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