| Summary: | Thulani Nyathi, Student no: 0413256X, MSc thesis, Physics, Faculty of science. 2006. Supervisor: Prof D van der Merwe. === This study aims to calculate tumour control probabilities (TCP) and normal tissue
complication probabilities (NTCP) using radiobiological models and correlate these
probabilities with clinically observed treatment outcome from follow-up records. These
radiobiological calculations were applied retrospectively to thirty-nine paediatric patients
who were treated with radiation at Johannesburg Hospital during the period January 1990
to December 2000 and had histologically proven rhabdomyosarcoma. Computer
software, BIOPLAN, was used to calculate the TCP and NTCP arising from the dose
distribution calculated by the treatment planning system and characterized by dosevolume
histograms (DVHs).
There was a weak correlation between the calculated TCP and the observed 5-year
overall survival status.
Furthermore, potential prognostic factors for survival were examined. Statistical analysis
was performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. The 5-year overall
survival rate was 55 %. The findings of this study are a yardstick against which more
aggressive radiotherapy fractionation regimes can be compared.
|
|---|
