Treatment Planning for Hypofractionated RT and SRS/SBRT

SRS and SBRT plans produce conformal dose distributions that deliver a high dose of radiation with steep gradients to a given target while minimizing dose to nearby OARs. The dose per fraction is significantly larger than conventional fractionation in these scenarios, necessitating much more rigorous stereotactic treatment planning. This chapter acts as a handbook for planning cranial and extracranial treatments, giving the reader insight into all steps of the treatment planning process, from simulation through plan analysis. Techniques used in treating tumors in the brain, head and neck, lung, breast, abdomen, pelvis, and spine will be covered in detail in this chapter.