Radiation therapy presents an effective and non-invasive option for cancer treatment. However, the use of ionizing radiation can also be harmful and the effects and side effects of irradiation need to be balanced. We develop algorithms and systems to identify the optimal trade-off among the various objectives, e.g., dose in the target, dose in critical structures, or treatment time.

Primarily we study methods from mathematical and heuristic optimization to solve large scale multi-objective planning problems. For example, our inhouse treatment planning software allows for flexible implementation and evaluation of novel algorithms and has been adapted to robotic radiosurgey and HDR brachytherapy.

Selected publications

T. Yu, F.-A. Siebert, A. Schlaefer (2018). A stochastic optimization approach accounting for uncertainty in HDR brachytherapy needle Placement. International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery CARS 2018. 13 (Suppl 1), 34-35.

S. Gerlach, I. Kuhlemann, F. Ernst, C. Fürweger, A. Schlaefer (2017). Impact of robotic ultrasound image guidance on plan quality in SBRT of the prostate. The British Journal of Radiology. 90 (1078), 20160926.

A. Schlaefer, T. Viulet, A. Muacevic, C. Fürweger (2013). Multicriteria optimization of the spatial dose distribution. Med Phys. 40 (12), 121720.

A. Schlaefer, A. Schweikard, (2008). Stepwise multi-criteria optimization for robotic radiosurgery. Med Phys. 35 (5), 2094-2103.

A. Schlaefer, J. Fisseler, S. Dieterich, H. Shiomi, K. Cleary, A. Schweikard (2005). Feasibility of four-dimensional conformal planning for robotic radiosurgery. Med Phys. 32 (12), 3786-3792.

 

 

3D Inverse Planning

Interactive Multi-Criteria Optimization

Planning for Motion Compensated Treatments

References

  • S. Gerlach, I. Kuhlemann, P. Jauer, R. Bruder, F. Ernst, C. Fürweger, A. Schlaefer (2016). Feasibility of robotic ultrasound guided SBRT of the prostate. CARS 2016 Proceedings, supplement of the International Journal of CARS accepted. [BibTex]

  • T. Viulet, O. Blanck, A. Schlaefer (2014). SU-E-T-258:Parallel Optimization of Beam Configurations for CyberKnife Treatments. Medical Physics. 41 (283), [doi] [BibTex]

  • T. Viulet, O. Blanck, A. Schlaefer (2014). SU-E-T-42:Analysis of Spatial Trade-Offs for a Spinal SRS Case. Medical Physics. 41 (231), [doi] [BibTex]

  • A. Schlaefer, T. Viulet, A. Muacevic, C. Fürweger (2013). Multicriteria optimization of the spatial dose distribution. Med Phys. 40 (12), 121720. [doi] [BibTex]

  • A. Schlaefer, S. Dieterich (2011). Feasibility of case-based beam generation for robotic radiosurgery. Artif Intell Med. 52 (2), 67-75. [doi] [BibTex]

  • T. Viulet, N. Rzezovski, A. Schlaefer (2011). Towards interactive planning for radiotherapy by three-dimensional iso-dose manipulation. [BibTex]

  • T. Viulet, N. Rzezovski, A. Schlaefer (2011). Three-Dimensional Isodose Surface Manipulation for Multi-Criteria Inverse Planning in Radiosurgery. [doi] [BibTex]

  • A. Schlaefer, T. Wolschon (2010). Optimizing the Trade-Off Between Number of Beam Starting Points and Plan Quality in Robotic Radiosurgery. [BibTex]