Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) dose gradient and PTV volume: a retrospective multi-center analysis

BACKGROUND: The treatment of lung lesions with stereotactic body radiation therapy calls for highly conformal dose, which is evaluated by a number of metrics. Lung stereotactic body radiation therapy clinical trials constrain a plans gradient index. The purpose of this work is to describe the dependence of clinically achievable dose gradient on planning target volume. METHODS: Three hundred seventy-four lung stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment plans were retrospectively reviewed and selected for this study. The relationship between R50% and planning target volume size was observed and compared against the RTOG 0915 and 0813 constraints noting minor and major deviations. Then a least squares regression was used to determine the coefficients for a power functional form of the dependence of gradient measure (GM) on planning target volume size. RESULTS: Of the 317 peripheral lung SBRT plans, 142 exhibited no deviation, 135 exhibited a minor deviation, and 40 exhibited a major deviation according to the RTOG 0915 dosimetric. conformality and dose fall-off constraints. A plot of gradient measure versus planning target volume size for peripheral lesions, excluding RTOG 0915 major deviations, is fit with an power function of GM = 0.564 V(0.215). CONCLUSIONS: Using the PTV size and GM relationship we have characterized, treatment plans with PTV < 85 cm(3) can be evaluated subjectively to our previously plans, and given a percentile GM. This relationship and evaluation is useful for volumetric modulated arc therapy lung stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment planning and quality control. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13014-019-1334-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.