Clinical Application of Helical Tomotherapy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital

  Objective  To summarize the experience of using helical tomotherapy (HT) in treating a variety of benign and malignant tumors.

  Methods  HT was applied in 33 prostate cancer patients, 23 multiple brain metastases patients, 15 germ cell tumor patients, 24 breast cancer patients, 19 pancreatic cancer patients, and 19 invasive pituitary adenoma patients from September 2012 to July 2013 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The results were compared with that of fixed-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy (FF-IMRT).

  Results  HT showed remarkable advantaged over the FF-IMRT in terms of the homogeneity and conformity of target, simultaneous integrated boost for different dose levels, protection of risk organs, and radiation field convergence. There was no region of dose below 95% or over 105% of prescription dose in the planning target volume. Isodose line of 80% prescription dose had good conformity. Three to five different dose levels could be achieved for simultaneous integrated boost. Doses of organs-at-risk decreased by 10%-20%. No field convergence was needed, and therefore hot or cold region was eliminated.

  Conclusions  HT is remarkably superior to FF-IMRT in the treatment of complex and long targets, simultaneous integrated boost of target, and protection of organs-at-risk. Its roles in treating different diseases need further study.