IMRT 2018

What is an NTCP model?

Complex models have been developed to describe what happens when you irradiate a patient. These are called mechanistic NTCP models.

• Limited understanding of mechanisms limits the scope of the models

• Requires too many parameters to allow fitting to clinical data

• Useful for generating hypotheses and testing methodology

Outcome modelling instead looks for a statistical relationship between treatment plan parameters and the incidence of a particular complication. This is called empirical or phenomenological NTCP modelling.

Regression-type models

•

• A few parameters fitted to treatment and outcome data

• Can fill the same purpose as dose-volume constraints

This lecture will focus on empirical NTCP modelling.

05/06/2018