Tanzania						                            
                            
						
 Research Article
												Target Volume Heterogeneity Index, a Potentially Valuable Metric in IMRT Prostate Cancer Treatment Planning 						
Author(s): Michael M. Dominello, Isaac Kaufman, Erin McSpadden, Michael Snyder, Mark Zaki, Jordan Maier, Peter Paximadis and Steven MillerMichael M. Dominello, Isaac Kaufman, Erin McSpadden, Michael Snyder, Mark Zaki, Jordan Maier, Peter Paximadis and Steven Miller             
						
												
				 Abstract 
Purpose/Objectives: Heterogeneity index (HI) has been described in the literature as a tool for evaluating dose gradients within a planning target volume (PTV). HI may be expressed as D1/D95 where D1 and D95 equal the dose encompassing 1% and 95% of the target volume. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of target volume dose heterogeneity on dose received by local organs at risk in the treatment of low and intermediate risk prostate cancer. 
Materials/Methods: Treatment plans were reviewed for 157 patients with low or intermediate risk prostate cancer treated with dose-escalated radiation therapy between 6/2007 and 2/2012. Patients treated in the post-operative setting or receiving pelvic nodal irradiation were excluded. Patients were treated with either standard intensity modulation (IMRT) using 7 or 8 fields or 2-arc volumetric modulated arc t.. Read More»
				  
												DOI:
												 10.4172/2155-9619.1000192 
																	  
Nuclear Medicine & Radiation Therapy received 706 citations as per Google Scholar report