Dosimetric evaluation of bone marrow sparing in proton radiotherapy for cervical cancer guided by MR functional imaging

BACKGROUND: To segment the pelvic active bone marrow (PABM) using magnetic resonance (MR) functional imaging and investigate the feasibility and dosimetric characteristics of cervical cancer proton radiotherapy for active bone marrow (ABM) sparing. METHODS: We collected CT and MR simulation images of 33 patients with cervical cancer retrospectively. The PBM was contoured on the MRI FatFrac images; the PBM was divided into high-active bone marrow (ABM-(high)) and low-active bone marrow based on the fat content of the PBM. Four radiotherapy plans were created for each patient, which included intensity-modulated photon therapy (IMRT), bone marrow sparing IMRT (IMRT-BMS), intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT), and bone marrow sparing IMPT (IMPT-BMS). The dosimetric differences among the four plans were compared. RESULTS: The ABM-(high) volume in the enrolled patients accounted for 45.2% of the total ABM volume. The target coverage was similar among the four radiotherapy plans. IMRT-BMS, IMPT, and IMPT-BMS reduced the D(mean) of ABM-(high) by 16.6%, 14.2%, and 44.5%, respectively, compared to the D(mean) of IMRT (p < 0.05). IMPT-BMS had the best protective effect on the bone marrow. Compared to IMRT, the volume of ABM-(high) receiving an irradiation dose of 5–40 Gy decreased by 10.2%, 36.8%, 58.8%, 67.4%, 64.9%, and 44.5%, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The MR functional imaging technique helped in the grading and segmentation of PABM. MR functional image-guided proton radiotherapy for cervical cancer can achieve optimal BMS. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13014-022-02175-3.