Published online Nov 28, 2014. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v6.i11.874
Revised: August 4, 2014
Accepted: September 23, 2014
Published online: November 28, 2014
Processing time: 213 Days and 17.9 Hours
The quality of radiation therapy depends on the ability to maximize the tumor control probability while minimize the normal tissue complication probability. Both of these two quantities are directly related to the accuracy of dose distributions calculated by treatment planning systems. The commonly used dose calculation algorithms in the treatment planning systems are reviewed in this work. The accuracy comparisons among these algorithms are illustrated by summarizing the highly cited research papers on this topic. Further, the correlation between the algorithms and tumor control probability/normal tissue complication probability values are manifested by several recent studies from different groups. All the cases demonstrate that dose calculation algorithms play a vital role in radiation therapy.
Core tip: This paper is a review of the impact of current commercial dose calculation algorithms on radiation therapy, with a focus on discussing the impact on tumor control probability and normal tissue complication probability.