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. 2012 Dec 8:7:208.
doi: 10.1186/1748-717X-7-208.

Compensability index for compensation radiotherapy after treatment interruptions

Paul Martin Putora  1 , Michael Schmuecking, Daniel Aebersold, Ludwig Plasswilm
Affiliations

Compensability index for compensation radiotherapy after treatment interruptions

Paul Martin Putora et al. Radiat Oncol. .

Abstract

Background: The goal of our work was to develop a simple method to evaluate a compensation treatment after unplanned treatment interruptions with respect to their tumour- and normal tissue effect.

Methods: We developed a software tool in java programming language based on existing recommendations to compensate for treatment interruptions. In order to express and visualize the deviations from the originally planned tumour and normal tissue effects we defined the compensability index.

Results: The compensability index represents an evaluation of the suitability of compensatory radiotherapy in a single number based on the number of days used for compensation and the preference of preserving the originally planned tumour effect or not exceeding the originally planned normal tissue effect. An automated tool provides a method for quick evaluation of compensation treatments.

Conclusions: The compensability index calculation may serve as a decision support system based on existing and established recommendations.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Aggressivity ranges from defensive to offensive compensation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A radiotherapy treatment compensation calculator.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The optimal compensation treatment needs to be found on a 2 dimensional plane consisting of aggressivity and duration (days available for compensatory treatment).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Calculating the late effect dose in percent from the compensation treatment for maximum compensation of tumour effect (offensive extreme), the tumor BED is 100% resulting in an increase of the normal tissue BED by 6.7%.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The calculated compensation doses for the given head&neck cancer example are displayed. The y axis represents the number of days used for compensation, the x axis represents the level of aggressivity (from defensive on the left to offensive on the right).
Figure 6
Figure 6
The compensability index displayed on a plane with the y axis representing the number of days for compensation and the x axis the aggressivity.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Sample interface of a compensability index calculator.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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