The impact of reference isocentre position on set-up errors in head-and-neck image guided radiotherapy

TL;DR

This study analyzes how the choice of reference isocentre (skull or neck) affects set-up errors in head-and-neck radiotherapy, finding no significant difference between the two options in terms of interfraction errors.

Contribution

It provides a large-scale quantitative comparison of set-up errors based on reference isocentre choice in head-and-neck radiotherapy.

Findings

No clear advantage of either isocentre in reducing set-up errors.

Set-up errors are uncorrelated across different directions.

Both isocentre choices show similar systematic and random errors.

Abstract

Aim: To examine and quantify set-up errors in patient positioning in head-and-neck radiotherapy and to investigate the impact of the choice of reference isocentre -- on the patient neck or patient skull -- on the magnitude of set-up errors. Materials and methods: Set-up position corrections obtained using online kV 2D/2D matching were recorded automatically for every treatment fraction. 3413 treatment records for 117 patients treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) during 2013 and 2014 on a single treatment machine in our clinic were analysed. In 79 treatment plans the reference isocentre was set to the patient skull, and in 47 to the neck. Results: Standard deviation of group systematic error in the vertical, longitudinal and lateral direction and the couch rotation were found to be 2.5 mm, 2.1 mm, 1.9 mm and 0.43{\deg} (skull) and 2.5 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.7 mm and 0.49{\deg} (neck). Random error of the vertical, longitudinal, lateral and rotational position correction was 1.8 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.6 mm and 0.62{\deg} (skull) and 1.9 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.5 mm and 0.60{\deg} (neck). Positional shifts in different directions were found to be uncorrelated. Conclusions: Neither reference isocentre set-up shows a clear advantage over the other in terms of interfraction set-up error.