CONTROLLING AND SHAPING THE DOSE DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE TREATMENT TARGETS IN EXTERNAL-BEAM RADIATION TREATMENTS

摘要

Streamlined and partially automated methods of setting normal tissue objectives in radiation treatment planning are provided. These methods may be applied to multiple-target cases as well as single-target cases. The methods can impose one or more target-specific dose falloff constraints around each target, taking into account geometric characteristics of each target such as target volume and shape. In some embodiments, methods can also take into account a planner's preferences for target dose homogeneity. In some embodiments, methods can generate additional dose falloff constraints in locations between two targets where dose bridging is likely to occur.