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Automating Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning By Using Hierarchical Optimization, Paras Babu Tiwari

McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) optimizes the beam’s intensity to deliver the prescribed dose to the target while minimizing the radiation exposure to normal structures. The IMRT optimization is a complex optimization problem because of the multiple conflicting objectives in it. Due to the complexity of the optimization, the IMRT treatment planning is still a trial and error process. Hierarchical optimization was proposed to automate the treatment planning process, but its potential has not been demonstrated in a clinical setting. Moreover, hierarchical optimization is slower than the traditional optimization. The dissertation studied a sampling algorithm to reduce the hierarchical …