<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<italic>Introduction:</italic> The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of flattening filter (FF) and flattening filter-free (FFF) beams on small-field and large-field dose distribution using the VMAT treatment plan.
<italic>Material and methods:</italic> Dose distribution calculations were performed for the VMAT technique in two locations: the larynx (small irradiation field; average 30.1 cm2) and gynecology (large irradiation field; average 173.1 cm2) using X-6MV flattening filter (FF) and flattening filter-free (FFF) beams. The following values were compared: the number of monitor units, minimum doses, average doses in PTV and maximum average doses in OaR (spinal cord – in larynx radiotherapy, bladder and rectum - in gynecological radiotherapy) and RPI (Radiation Planning Index) coefficient.
<italic>Results and Discussion:</italic> The performed statistical tests indicate that there is a significant difference (p &lt;0.05) between the number of monitor units in the irradiation of large (gynecological) fields between the FF and FFF beams. The dose distributions show no statistically significant differences between the flattening filter and flattening-free filter beams (regardless of the field size).
<italic>Conclusions:</italic> Due to the smaller number of monitor units, it is recommended to use flattening filter beams (FF) for large-field radiotherapy.
</abstract>

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of flattening filter (FF) and flattening filter-free (FFF) beams on small-field and large-field dose distribution using the VMAT treatment plan.
Material and methods: Dose distribution calculations were performed for the VMAT technique in two locations: the larynx (small irradiation field; average 30.1 cm2) and gynecology (large irradiation field; average 173.1 cm2) using X-6MV flattening filter (FF) and flattening filter-free (FFF) beams. The following values were compared: the number of monitor units, minimum doses, average doses in PTV and maximum average doses in OaR (spinal cord – in larynx radiotherapy, bladder and rectum - in gynecological radiotherapy) and RPI (Radiation Planning Index) coefficient.
Results and Discussion: The performed statistical tests indicate that there is a significant difference (p <0.05) between the number of monitor units in the irradiation of large (gynecological) fields between the FF and FFF beams. The dose distributions show no statistically significant differences between the flattening filter and flattening-free filter beams (regardless of the field size).
Conclusions: Due to the smaller number of monitor units, it is recommended to use flattening filter beams (FF) for large-field radiotherapy.

Effects of flattening filter (FF) and flattening filter-free (FFF) beams on small-field and large-field dose distribution using the VMAT treatment plan

Polish Journal of Medical Physics and Engineering

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of flattening filter (FF) and flattening filter-free (FFF) beams on small-field and...

Effects of flattening filter (FF) and flattening filter-free (FFF) beams on small-field and large-field dose distribution using the VMAT treatment plan

Published Online: Jul 01, 2021

Page range: 137 - 141

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pjmpe-2021-0016

Keywords
Flattening Filter-Free Beams (FFF), Flattening Filter Beams (FF), VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy)

© 2021 Dominika J. Plaza et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Effects of flattening filter (FF) and flattening filter-free (FFF) beams on small-field and large-field dose distribution using the VMAT treatment plan

Published Online: Jul 01, 2021

Page range: 137 - 141

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pjmpe-2021-0016

KeywordsFlattening Filter-Free Beams (FFF), Flattening Filter Beams (FF), VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy)

© 2021 Dominika J. Plaza et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Flattening Filter-Free Beams (FFF), Flattening Filter Beams (FF), VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy)