Abstract
The use of three-dimensional virtual reality technologies in education has been widely
reported in the literature. The goal of this article is to review how the virtual
environment for radiotherapy training (VERT) can be utilised to support the teaching
of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric-modulated arc therapy, and
dynamic conformal arc therapy techniques. Utilising Pinnacle v14 (Philips Radiation
Oncology Systems, Madison, WI) and Monaco v 5.10 (Elekta CMS, Maryland Heights, MO),
we exported IMRT, volumetric-modulated arc therapy, and dynamic conformal arc therapy
treatment plans to VERT. Quality assurance (QA) plans were also exported from the
Monaco planning software to demonstrate theoretical concepts and virtual plan delivery
using the ArcCHECK phantom (Sun Nuclear Corp, Melbourne, FL) and solid water IMRT
phantom. Several VERT features were utilised to critically evaluate dose coverage
and organ at risk sparing on inverse treatment plans. The display of gantry and multileaf
collimator motion and fluence maps could be a useful feature in the education of treatment
planning concepts. QA could be delivered on VERT to demonstrate patient-specific QA
concepts in a virtual environment. Anecdotal evidence shows that the use of VERT for
collaborative plan evaluation sessions is likely to engage the students and improve
their ability to evaluate treatment plans. VERT can be utilised to reinforce understanding
of treatment plan evaluation skills, QA, and treatment delivery of inverse plans in
educational environments.
Résumé
L'utilisation des techniques tridimensionnelles de la réalité virtuelle en enseignement
a été largement publiée dans la documentation. Cet article veut examiner comment l'Environnement
virtuel pour la formation en radiothérapie (VERT) peut être utilisé pour appuyer l'enseignement
de la radiothérapie par modulation d'intensité (IMRT), l'arcthérapie modulée volumétrique
(VMAT) et l'arcthérapie dynamique conformationnelle (DCAT). En utilisant Pinnacle
v14 (Philips Radiation Oncology Systems, Madison, WI) et Monaco v 5.10 (Elekta CMS,
Maryland Heights, MO) nous avons exporté des plans de traitement IMRT, VMAT et DCAT
vers VERT. Les plans d'assurance qualité (AQ) ont également été exportés à partir
du logiciel de planification Monaco afin de démontrer des principes théoriques et
la livraison virtuelle des plans à l'aide du fantôme ArcCHECK (Sun Nuclear Corp, Melbourne,
FL) et du fantôme en eau solide d'IMRT. Plusieurs caractéristiques de VERT ont été
utilisées afin d'évaluer de façon critique la couverture de la dose et la protection
de l'organe à risque sur les plans de traitement inversés. L'affichage de cartes de
mouvements et de fluence du portique et du collimateur multilames pourrait être un
élément utile pour l'enseignement des concepts de planification des traitements. L'AQ
pourrait être appliquée à VERT afin de démontrer les concepts d'AQ propres aux patients
dans un environnement virtuel. La preuve empirique démontre que l'utilisation de VERT
pour des sessions collaboratives d'évaluation des plans est susceptible d'intéresser
les étudiants et d'améliorer leur capacité à évaluer les plans de traitement. VERT
peut servir à renforcer la compréhension des compétences en matière d'évaluation des
plans de traitement, d'assurance qualité et de prestation de traitements de plans
inversés dans un milieu pédagogique.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: January 03, 2018
Identification
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© 2018 Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
