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An Evaluation of the Feasibility and Utility of Automated HyperArc Planning for Multiple Brain Metastases: A Comparative Dosimetric Analysiss

Year 2025, Volume: 16 Issue: 4, 560 - 566, 01.10.2025
https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1687276

Abstract

Purpose: This study compared automated HyperArc (HA) planning with manually designed VMAT plans for treating patients with multiple brain metastases.
Materials and Methods: Ten patients with an average of 15 metastases (range: 10–23) were retrospectively analyzed. All underwent high-resolution CT imaging (1 mm slice thickness) registered to contrast-enhanced MRI. Targets were delineated by a radiation oncologist. For lesions ≥10 mm, the gross tumor volume (GTV) equaled the planning target volume (PTV); for smaller lesions, a 1 mm margin was added. VMAT plans used a single isocenter and non-coplanar arcs, while HA plans were generated with automated optimization. Prescribed doses ranged from 20 to 30 Gy, delivered over 3–5 fractions. Dosimetric parameters compared included conformity index (CI), gradient index (GI), homogeneity index (HI), healthy brain V10Gy and V12Gy, maximum and mean brainstem doses, and maximum doses to optic structures and lenses. Total monitor units (MU) were also assessed.
Results: Target coverage was similar between VMAT and HA, with no significant differences in CI (p = 0.721) or GI (p = 0.241). HA showed improved homogeneity and significantly reduced doses to healthy brain (lower V10Gy) and critical structures including brainstem (p = 0.009) and optic chiasm (p = 0.013). HA also required about 65% fewer MUs than VMAT (p = 0.007), indicating shorter treatment times.
Conclusion: HA planning provided superior sparing of healthy brain tissue and critical structures and improved treatment efficiency compared to VMAT. HA represents a promising automated approach for stereotactic radiosurgery in complex multi-target cases

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by internal ethics review board

Supporting Institution

This study was prepared without any external source of funding

References

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There are 18 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Clinical Sciences (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Öznur Şenkesen 0000-0002-6004-086X

Emine Burçin İspir 0000-0003-4946-5135

Zeynep Özen 0009-0002-8179-6612

Ufuk Abacioğlu 0000-0002-3950-8616

Early Pub Date September 23, 2025
Publication Date October 1, 2025
Submission Date May 1, 2025
Acceptance Date June 16, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 16 Issue: 4

Cite

EndNote Şenkesen Ö, İspir EB, Özen Z, Abacioğlu U (October 1, 2025) An Evaluation of the Feasibility and Utility of Automated HyperArc Planning for Multiple Brain Metastases: A Comparative Dosimetric Analysiss. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 16 4 560–566.