Lung cancer radiation therapy: comparative study between the 3DCRT and IMRT

Abstract

Background: An effective treatment for lung cancer is radiation therapy. This research set out to compare two radiation treatment strategies for lung cancer, one utilising volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and the other using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), to reduce exposure to the liver and contralateral lung. Patients and methods: A clinical research study at the Baghdad Center for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine in Iraq involved 30 patients diagnosed with unilateral lung cancer. The study used MONACO software to replicate C.T. scans, develop protocols for IMRT and VMAT, and expose patients to x-ray photon beams. Statistical significance was determined when the p-value was less than 0.05. Results: The VMAT treatment planning approach has been demonstrated to be superior to the IMRT technique regarding the minimum, maximum, and mean dosage to the target, as well as the hot and cold regions. Finally, the dose delivered to the liver and lung on the contralateral side should be decreased. Conclusion: In Comparison to IMRT, VMAT consistently exhibits superior outcomes in its capacity to target lung tumours while concurrently preserving healthy tissue on the contralateral side.