Department of Radiation Oncology

Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is a common treatment for brain metastases, but it can cause cognitive decline, including problems with memory, attention, and executive function. By sparing the hippocampi during radiation therapy, we aim to reduce memory loss while still providing effective treatment for brain metastases.

From a beam's-eye-view, the movie demonstrates how multi-leaf collimators (MLC) shape the dose distribution in volumetric arc therapy (VMAT). The MLCs shield the hippocampi (cyan) from direct radiation. A heatmap of the resulting cumulative dose shows that the hippocampi reside in the cold islets, protecting them from the harmful effects of radiation.