A comparison of the convolution and TMR10 treatment planning algorithms for Gamma Knife^® radiosurgery.

Abstract

AIMS: To compare the accuracies of the convolution and TMR10 Gamma Knife treatment planning algorithms, and assess the impact upon clinical practice of implementing convolution-based treatment planning. METHODS: Doses calculated by both algorithms were compared against ionisation chamber measurements in homogeneous and heterogeneous phantoms. Relative dose distributions calculated by both algorithms were compared against film-derived 2D isodose plots in a heterogeneous phantom, with distance-to-agreement (DTA) measured at the 80%, 50% and 20% isodose levels. A retrospective planning study compared 19 clinically acceptable metastasis convolution plans against TMR10 plans with matched shot times, allowing novel comparison of true dosimetric parameters rather than total beam-on-time. Gamma analysis and dose-difference analysis were performed on each pair of dose distributions. RESULTS: 6.4% (95% CI:5.5%-7.3%,p<0.001) less than shot matched TMR10 plans. For gamma passing criteria 1%/1mm, 16% of targets had passing rates >95%. The range of dose differences in the targets was 0.2-4.6Gy. CONCLUSIONS: Convolution provides superior accuracy versus TMR10 in heterogeneous conditions. Implementing convolution would result in increased target doses therefore its implementation may require a revaluation of prescription doses.