Evaluation of radiotherapy treatment plan quality using model based predictions

Radiotherapy treatment planning is a balancing act between delivering a tumourcidal radiation dose whilst minimising the dose to healthy surrounding tissue. Multiple studies have demonstrated significant variation in treatment plan quality which is dependent on the experience of the treatment planner. The project will aim to create geometric models that predict the dose to surrounding healthy tissue for a given radiation dose to the tumour. The models will be based on ‘gold standard’ treatment plans, thereby predicting the best quality treatment plan that can be produced for each individual patient. This will reduce the variation in treatment plan quality by providing the planner with a target to aim, ensuring that all patients are treated with a high quality treatment plan.