Improve the Radiotherapy Planning Process Clinical Trial
Official title:
A Pilot Study to Optimise the Use of FDG PET-CT and Deformable Image Co-registration for Lymphoma Radiotherapy Planning
Chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy is used to treat early stage lymphomas with excellent
cure rates. However, a significant proportion of these patients develop cancers and heart
diseases years later as a result of the radiotherapy. Therefore, there is a move to reduce
radiation exposure without compromising cure rates. Radiotherapy is planned using a CT scan
taken following chemotherapy when many of the original sites of the lymphoma are no longer
visible using a CT scan taken following chemotherapy when many of the original sites of the
lymphoma are no longer visible.
In order to safely minimise the volume treated with radiotherapy it is necessary to
accurately reconstruct the extent of the lymphoma prior to chemotherapy on this 'planning'
CT scan. A PETCT prior to chemotherapy is the best way of demonstrating the original extent
of the lymphoma, but is taken in a different position to the radiotherapy treatment
position. This aim of this study is to explore whether a PETCT scan taken prior to
chemotherapy in the radiotherapy treatment position, in conjunction with advanced software
to combine this scan with the subsequent radiotherapy planning CT, can be used to more
accurately identify the lymphoma target. The study aims to recruit up to 20 patients with
early stage Hodgkin lymphoma or high grade nonHodgkin lymphoma. A routine staging PETCT will
be followed at the same session by a PETCT in the radiotherapy treatment position
appropriate radiotherapy immobilisation devices. Participation in the study will not affect
treatment decisions or the radiotherapy planning process. The PETCT in the radiotherapy
planning position will be made available to the treating clinicians. The process of planning
radiotherapy will not be systematically altered by the study. The study is aimed at
determining how to improve the radiotherapy planning process in the future, in the hope of a
reducing in the long term side effects of treatment whilst retaining high cure rates.
n/a
Allocation: Non-Randomized, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment