Assessment of set-up variability during deep inspiration breath hold radiotherapy for breast cancer patients by 3D-surface imaging

Purpose: To quantify set-up uncertainties during voluntary deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) radiotherapy using 3D-surface imaging in patients with left sided breast cancer. Material and methods: Nineteen patients were included. Cone-beam CT-scan (CBCT) was used for online set-up correction while patients were instructed to perform a voluntary DIBH. The reproducibility of the DIBH during treatment was monitored with 2D-fluoroscopy and portal imaging. Simultaneously, a surface imaging system was used to capture 3D-surfaces throughout CBCT acquisition and delivery of treatment beams. Retrospectively, all captured surfaces were registered to the planning-CT surface. Interfraction, intra-fraction and intra-beam set-up variability were quantified in left-right, cranio-caudal and anterior-posterior direction. Results: Inter-fraction systematic (Sigma) and random (sigma) translational errors (1SD) before and after set-up correction were between 0.20-0.50 cm and 0.09-0.22 cm, respectively, whereas rotational Sigma and sigma errors were between 0.08 and 1.56 degrees. The intra-fraction Sigma and sigma errors were <= 0.14 cm and <= 0.47 degrees. The intra-beam SD variability was <= 0.08 cm and <= 0.28 degrees in all directions. Conclusion: Quantification of 3D set-up variability in DIBH RT showed that patients are able to perform a very stable and reproducible DIBH within a treatment fraction. However, relatively large inter-fraction variability requires online image guided set-up corrections. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Radiotherapy and Oncology 106 (2013) 225-230