VARIABLE FEATHERING FIELD SPLITTING FOR INTENSITY MODULATED FIELDS OF LARGE SIZE

摘要

A method and associated system (300) for delivering intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) uses variable feathering field splitting for intensity modulated fields of large size. Processor (112) controls a beam-shaping device (106) so that the beam-shaping device splits the radiation beam into a plurality of radiation fields delivered to the patient (102). Processor (112) in cooperation with beam-shaping device (106) implements a variable feathering method which includes the steps of providing an intensity matrix for the treatment of a patient, the intensity matrix having a plurality of rows and columns for spanning a prescribed radiation field including a prescribed field width. The prescribed width is compared to a maximum field width provided by the radiation treatment system. The intensity matrix is split into a plurality of spatially overlapping intensity submatrices when the prescribed width exceeds the maximum field width, wherein the splitting comprises variably feathering the intensity matrix. Radiotherapy is then provided to the patient (102) using a leaf sequencing method to generate the submatrices.