A method to predict the effect of organ motion and set-up variations on treatment plans.

Dose distributions calculated by commercial treatment planning systems do not allow incorporation of the effects of patient position variation or organ motion throughout the course of radiation therapy treatment. We have established a convolution-based method, which enables us to display dose distributions using a commercial treatment planning system that can take into account target movement. An example of the method applied to a prostate treatment plan is presented. For the method to be of clinical use it requires assessment of the parameters leading to target movement in a scientific manner in the same treatment department that it is to be used. It is not sufficient to rely on published data especially that relating to set-up accuracy as this has been shown to vary widely from centre to centre. We believe that with appropriate movement data, a convolution-based approach can lead to more optimal radiation margins around clinical target volumes (CTV). Optimal margins will help prevent geometric misses as well as ensure that the amount of critical late reacting normal tissues surrounding the CTV irradiated is minimised. Optimal margins cannot be guaranteed with the more conventionally used "rule of thumb" techniques for placing a planning target volume around the CTV.