Table 1 Site-specific setups
Disease site | Setup | Image |
|---|---|---|
Setup 1: Brain planning | CT: head board, head support, hybrid 3-point thermoplastic mask, arms on chest, kneefix |
|
MR: no immobilization devices are used | ||
RF coil: head coil | ||
Tabletop: curved | ||
Slice thickness: 1 mm | ||
Setup 2: Head and neck and upper thorax planning | CT and MR: head board, head support, 5-point thermoplastic mask, arms on the chest for all except for by sides for esophagus, kneefix |
|
RF coil: anterior, posterior and flex coil for HN and superior esophagus; posterior and flex coil for cervical an upper thoracic spine | ||
Tabletop: flat | ||
Slice thickness: 1 mm for spine; 1.5–2 mm for head and neck, brachial plexus, and upper esophagus | ||
Brachial plexus: patients are shifted toward the contralateral side | ||
Setup 3: Breast planning | CT and MR: head support, vacuum cushion, arms above the head, align patient’s tattoos to ensure same set up. Vacuum cushion is omitted when it does not fit inside the bore |
|
RF coil: posterior and flex coil | ||
Tabletop: flat | ||
Slice thickness: 1.5–2 mm | ||
Setup 4: Lower thorax, abdomen, and pelvic bones SBRT planning | CT: whole body vacuum cushion, head support, arms above the head. 4D CT with no abdominal compression for abdominal treatment |
|
MR: head support, arms above the head, align patient’s tattoos to ensure same set up | ||
RF Coil: posterior coil for spine; posterior and anterior coil for abdominal and pelvic bone SBRT | ||
Tabletop: curve | ||
Slice thickness: 1 mm for spine; 1.5–2 mm for abdominal SBRT | ||
Setup 5: Lower thorax and abdomen non-SBRT planning | CT and MR: head support, arms above the head, kneefix, align patient’s tattoos to ensure same set up |
|
4D CT-SIM with no abdominal compression for patients with abdominal tumours | ||
RF coil: posterior and anterior coil | ||
Tabletop: flat | ||
Slice thickness: 1.5–2 mm | ||
Setup 6: Pelvis planning | CT and MR: head support, arms on chest, W foam, align patient’s tattoos to ensure same set up |
|
Tabletop: flat | ||
RF coil: posterior and anterior coil | ||
Slice thickness: 1.5–2 mm | ||
Uterine cancer: CT is acquired with full bladder, and MR with both full/empty bladder | ||
Vulvar and anal canal: CT-Planning with a vacuum cushion (frog leg); MR-Planning should replicate the frog leg position as much as possible |
