Dose-volume histograms computation comparisons using conventional methods and optimized fast Fourier transforms algorithms for brachytherapy

In anatomy based optimization procedures for large volume implants the calculation of dose-volume histograms (DVH) accounts for the major part of the time involved and can be as long as a few hours. This time is proportional to the number of seeds or source dwell positions required for the implant....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical physics (Lancaster) 2000-10, Vol.27 (10), p.2343-2356
Main Authors: Kemmerer, T., Lahanas, M., Baltas, D., Zamboglou, N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Anatomy
brachytherapy
Brachytherapy - statistics & numerical data
convolution
dose distributions
dose‐volume histograms
dosimetry
fast Fourier Transformation
fast Fourier transforms
Fourier Analysis
Fourier transforms
Humans
Numerical optimization
optimisation
Optimization
Physicists
radiation therapy
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted - statistics & numerical data
Therapeutic applications, including brachytherapy
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Summary:In anatomy based optimization procedures for large volume implants the calculation of dose-volume histograms (DVH) accounts for the major part of the time involved and can be as long as a few hours. This time is proportional to the number of seeds or source dwell positions required for the implant. A procedure for the calculation of brachytherapy seed dose distribution calculation employing fast Fourier transforms (FFT) and the convolution theorem has been described by others and was supposed to significantly improve the speed of the dose distribution computation. Using new significantly improved FFT algorithms and various other optimization techniques we have compared the calculated differential and integral DVHs in high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy with a single stepping source using actual clinical implants. This is so that we could assess the efficiency and accuracy of the FFT method with that of conventional methods. Our results showed that the FFT based method of calculating DVHs in brachytherapy is comparable in speed with conventional dose calculation methods, but only for implants with more than 287 sources. It is therefore of limited practical use even for large implants. This result is in direct opposition to the claim by other authors.
ISSN:0094-2405
2473-4209
DOI:10.1118/1.1312810