TITLE:
HalcyonTM Acuros XB vs AAA: A RapidArc Planning Comparison for Head & Neck Cancers
AUTHORS:
Jonathan Mbewe, Sakhele Shiba
KEYWORDS:
Halcyon, Acuros XB, AAA, RapidArc, Head and Neck
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Medical Physics, Clinical Engineering and Radiation Oncology,
Vol.11 No.4,
September
29,
2022
ABSTRACT: The Halcyon O-ring gantry
linear accelerator from Varian Medical Systems is delivered with a hardcoded beam-source model and Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm dose calculation
algorithm as standard, while the Acuros XB algorithm is a purchasable option. The models in both algorithms are
factory-configured and do not permit fine-tuning by
the user. In this study, we compared the two algorithms for sequential boost
RapidArc treatment planning of Head & Neck cancers using D98%, D95%, D50%,
D2% and maximum dose to assess dose coverage of nodal and tumor planning target volumes (PTV_N
and PTV_T, respectively), and cochlear D5%, parotid D20%, D50%, mean dose, and
cord maximum dose to evaluate doses to organs- at-risk. The conformity index (CI),
homogeneity index (HI) and total number of monitor units (MU) quantified plan
quality. We found statistically significant differences in PTV_N D2%, maximum
dose, HI, PTV_T D98%, D95%, D2%, Max, HI, and total MU. Statistically
significant differences in Cochlear D5% and Parotid mean doses were also
encountered. These differences may not necessarily be clinically significant,
however. Therefore, we believe that both calculation algorithms are adequate
for RapidArc planning of Head & Neck cancers.