Evaluation of the Dose Gradient Index in Various Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Techniques in Patients with Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is one of the best methods in the treatment of optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM) with tumor growth control and visual stabilization. In this study, various IMRT techniques were evaluated from the point of view of dose fall-off beyond the target boundaries to achieve the optimal technique.

The optimization of 3 IMRT techniques was performed using 3, 5, and 7 fields with 6 MV photons in 15 patients with ONSM using Prowess Panther treatment planning system. To evaluate treatment plans, in addition to data extracted from dose-volume histogram (DVH) and evaluation of target coverage indices, differential and cumulative dose gradient indices (DGIs) were calculated and compared between the three techniques.

The maximum and the mean dose received by the tumor increased with increasing number of IMRT fields. The uniformity (UI) and homogeneity (HI) indices were significantly different between the 3-field and 7-field techniques; and the conformity index (CI) was close to ideal value (0.99) in 7-field technique. Difference of differential dose gradient index (dDGI) was negligible between the three techniques, and only at the 45% isodose level, there was a significant difference between the 5- and 7-field techniques. Cumulative dose gradient index (cDGI) showed smaller values in 7-field technique than the other two techniques.

The three IMRT techniques have no considerable statistical difference in dose fall-off rate beyond tumor boundaries; and their choice in the treatment of ONSM depends on the physician's discretion based on the whole patient's conditions.