Mathematical Optimization of Treatment Schedules

In the past decades, mathematical optimization has found its way into radiation therapy and has had a profound practice-changing impact. Today, virtually all advanced treatment delivery methods, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric arc therapy, tomotherapy, low-dose-rate/high-dose-rate brachytherapy, and proton therapy are based on some form of optimization approach that changes the treatment variables (eg, beam intensities, multileaf collimator shapes, beam angles, dwell times, and seed or source positions) in the planning computer using an optimization algorithm until the best value of the treatment (planning) objective has been found.
Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Feature Source Type: research