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Introduction

Carcinoma of the pancreas (CAP) portends a poor prognosis. In fact, at diagnosis, the disease is generally advanced, with frequent presence of epigastric and back pain (1). Radiation therapy (RT) is effective for pain palliation, even with short-term and involved-field radiotherapy (2).

The standard treatment technique of CAP is three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), intensity modulated radiotherapy, and stereotactic radiotherapy (3). These techniques however, are not available in several centers, especially in developing countries, where the only available technique is standard two-dimensional (2D) technique, often based on a cobalt unit (4–6). For 2D technique, guidelines for adjuvant or radical treatments involving the prophylactic irradiation of regional lymph nodes are available (7). Conversely, guidelines for palliative RT with standard 2D technique are lacking.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide guidelines for palliative treatment of advanced CAP with a 2D technique.

Patients and methods

Fifteen patients with locally advanced CAP consecutively treated with RT in our center were identified. Patients underwent computed tomography (CT) simulation in supine position. Prior to CT-simulation, 100 cc of contrast medium (Gastrografin) were administered orally in order to visualize the stomach and duodenum. Scans were performed at an interval of 5 mm, from T9 to L5.

The definition of the Clinical Target Volume (CTV) included the head and body of the pancreas irrespective of tumor stage and tumor site of the individual patient. In the CTV, the retropancreatic space was included, from the posterior surface of the gland to the middle of the aorta and inferior vena cava. All contours were verified by an experienced radiation oncologist (GM) and by a senior consultant (AGM). All patients enrolled in the study signed a consent form for the use of their data and CT images for performing this analysis. The study was approved by the institutional board of Research and Care Foundation ‘Giovanni Paolo II’.

The contours of the following Organs at Risk (OARs) were defined: spinal cord, liver, kidneys, small bowel and duodenum. An Internal Margin of 10 mm in cranio-caudal direction and 4 mm in the radial direction was considered (8). A Set-Up Margin of 10 mm in all directions was also considered. The Planning Target Volume (PTV) was defined by adding a margin of 14 mm to the CTV in cranio-caudal direction and 11 mm in radial direction.

For each patient, 3 treatment plans were calculated using: A cobalt source, 6 MV photons and 15 MV photons, respectively. Treatment plans based on the box technique were generated, with a pair of anterior-posterior and postero-anterior (AP-PA) and with a pair of lateral beams (LL). A fixed Source-Axis Distance (SAD) technique was used. The SAD was 100 cm for photon beams and 80 cm for the cobalt unit. The beams weights were: 20% AP, 30% PA, and 25% for L-L beams, in order to reduce the dose to liver and kidneys.

Beams were drawn using the primary collimators (without using multileaf collimators). Primary collimators were initially placed at 5 mm distance with respect to the PTV margins. Then the minimum dose (Dmin) was evaluated. Fields sizes were gradually increased, in steps of 2–3 mm in order to respect the minimum dose (Dmin >90%) constraint. This progressive optimization was analyzed with an iterative procedure assessing the three-dimensional dose distribution. In this way, it was possible to identify the fields sizes to be enlarged on the basis of ‘cold spots’ sites.

Once the final plan was achieved, distances of the fields edges from a set of reference points were measured. In this way 15 AP-PA beams and 15 pairs of LL beams were defined for the different patients. Finally, minimal individual field margins for AP-PA and LL beams, able to encompass the entire different 15 sets were defined.

Results

Fifteen patients with locally advanced CAP were enrolled in the study. Patient characteristics are shown in Table I. Figs. 1 and 2 show the AP-PA and LL fields defined in the individual patients. Table II shows the results of the analysis, in terms of field margins using the different beam energies. Figs. 3 and 4 show the suggested fields obtained using the ‘recommended’ margins for a cobalt unit.

Figure 1. Anterior-posterior treatment fields defined for the different patients (cobalt source only) are represented with different colours.

Figure 2. Lateral-lateral treatment fields defined for the different patients (cobalt source only) are represented with different colours.

Figure 3. Recommended anteroposterio field margins for cobalt unit.

Figure 4. Recommended lateral field margins for cobalt unit.

Table I. Patient characteristics.

Table I.

Patient characteristics.

Characteristic	Number	%
Age, years median (range)	66 (46–82)
Sex (male/female)	9/6	60/40
BMI, median (range)	25 (20–30)

[i] BMI, body mass index.

Table II. Field definitions.

Table II.

Field definitions.

Field	Margin		Co60	6 MV	15 MV
Anterior-posterior	Cranial	From point A (middle of T11 vertebra): Caudally	0	5	10
	Caudal	From point B (bottom of the duodenal wall): Caudally	15	10	5
	Right	From point C (most external point of the duodenum): Laterally	10	8	8
	Left	From point D (left margin of L1 vertebra): Laterally	15	13	13
Lateral	Cranial	Same as anterior-posterior	0	5	10
	Caudal	Same as anterior-posterior	15	10	5
	Anterior	From point E (anteriorsurface of L1 vertebra): Anteriorly	95	93	93
	Posterior	From point E (anterior surface of L1 vertebra): Posteriorly	20	18	18

[i] Reported measures represent minimal individual field margins needed to respect the PTV constraint Dmin >90%. Measures are expressed in millimetres.

Discussion

A dosimetric evaluation was performed in 15 patients with locally advanced CAP to define the standard fields for palliative RT with 2D technique. Previous guidelines for 2D RT were available (7). However, these guidelines were provided for tumor and prophylactic nodal irradiation (PNI). In our study, guidelines are provided for the irradiation of the primary tumor only. In fact, our recommendations are aimed at standardization of palliative RT, for which PNI is unnecessary. In fact, PNI produces higher toxicity, with a negative impact on quality of life (QoL) (9).

The analysis was conducted by defining the CTV as the head and body of the pancreas since they account for most sites of CAP. Therefore, the guidelines given in this study apply only to tumors in these locations. In the CTV, the retropancreatic space was also included. The region behind the pancreas, referred to as the ‘mesopancreas’ (10), contains a rich nerve plexus accompanying the lymphatic vessels (11). The infiltration of this nerve plexus can cause pain, frequently present in these patients (1). Therefore, to broadly include this potential pain site of origin, the anterior half of the great vessels was included in the CTV.

For the definition of the set-up margin, 1 cm in all directions was used. We must recognize that this margin may be lower especially in cases of systematic use of portal imaging (12). However, our study is addressed to less technologically equipped centers, and therefore probably without these practicality setting.

In this analysis, field margins were defined using the minimum size to ensure a minimum dose to the target of 90% of the prescribed dose. This constraint is less restrictive than the limits recommended by ICRU 62 which provides a minimum dose to the target of 95%. However, the constraint Dmin >90% seemed more appropriate considering our palliative treatment concept. More so, the use of this dose limit can probably reduce the risk of wide irradiation of OARs, particularly the intestine and stomach. We felt it was important to reduce the toxicity profile with respect to OARs since our goal was to improve QoL.

This study included 15 patients with different anatomical features, as indicated from the large range of body mass index (Table I). This sample size seemed reasonable to define the standard dimensions of the irradiation fields. However, we can not exclude that these fields may be inadequate in some patients. Therefore, it is recommended that a qualitative assessment of the tumor site be undertaken, such as using a diagnostic CT scan. Particularly, this would provide an assessment of the cranial field limit appropriate for the inclusion of the tumor in the treated volume. A qualitative assessment of this type may also enable reduction of the field size in some patients.

Our study provides descriptive information only about field sizes and location, and not on dose and fractionation. Therefore, a subsequent dosimetric study has been planned in order to identify the dose to be administered with this technique taking into account current dose-volume constraints (13). This analysis will also determine the actual feasibility of treatment based on cobalt equipment. Thus, these results will be potentially useful in centers with this modality only.

In conclusion, with this paper we are providing a convenient tool for 2D target delineation of CAP in less equipped centres.

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

No funding was received.

Availability of data and materials

All relevant data and its supporting information files are within the paper.

Authors' contributions

Concept and design involved MB, SaC, FD, GB, SiC and AGM. Treatment planning, analysis and interpretation of the data was performed by AM, MB, CMD, AG and AGM. Drafting of the article was performed by MB, FD, SaC, and AGM. Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content involved TW, TS, AFMK, MAS and AGM.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

All patients enrolled in the study signed a consent form for the use of their data and CT images for performing this analysis. The study was approved by the institutional board of Research and Care Foundation ‘Giovanni Paolo II’.

Consent to publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References