Investigating the Efficacy of Hair Sparing Radiotherapy Treatment to the Whole Brain.

To investigate the use of a scalp sparing technique of radiotherapy treatment designed to treat the whole brain. Current treatment methods to treat the whole brain with radiotherapy result in complete alopecia as a side effect. Hair loss is usually patchy and uneven and re-growth similar and slow. It is hoped that reducing the radiation dose to the hair bearing follicle on the scalp will reduce hair loss and increase the speed and evenness of re-growth.

Rationale for conducting the SPARE study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of delivering WBRT via the VMAT method on hair loss and subsequent re-growth. Hair loss has been found to have a negative impact on QoL and can be particularly stressful for patients with a very short life expectancy, this is already well documented. Trying to minimise this treatment side effect, as previously stated in the literature, is a worthwhile investigation. This study is not looking at any prescribed dose changes to the established, evidence based and well documented prescriptions for WBRT. SPARE is an observational study of hair loss and re-growth during and after a patient's prescribed clinical treatment. Aims and Objectives; 1\) To observe hair loss and re-growth in patients undergoing Whole Brain Radiotherapy using the Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy method of delivery. As complete alopecia is expected in 100% of patients receiving conventionally delivered WBRT it will be considered a positive result if complete hair loss does not happen when using VMAT in this group of patients. Assessment of hair loss and re-growth. The assessment of hair loss and subsequent re-growth will be conducted using both objective and subjective assessments: 1. Objective assessment: Photographic 2. Subjective assessment: Patient interviews \\ completion of a hair record sheet. Photographic assessment: Initial baseline photographs will be taken before any radiotherapy treatment is delivered on day one of the treatment schedule. Four photographs in total of the head, two laterals (left and right sides), the top (superior) and back (posterior). Subsequent serial photographs will be taken at two weeks, one, two, three, and four months after radiotherapy treatment. Subjective assessment: Patients will be asked to give their own opinion on their hair loss \\ gain and this will be recorded on the hair record forms and completed by a member of the study team. This will be conducted at the same time intervals as the scalp photographs being taken. Scalp photos will also be assessed by 2 independent members of the research team and scored using the same scales as the participant. Subsequent follow-up scalp pictures will be assessed against baseline (day 1) photos or complete alopecia images to assess re-growth. Planning and Dosimetry: Treatment plans will be generated using a 2 arc VMAT technique generated on Varian's Eclipse treatment planning system using 10 MV photons delivered on a Varian Clinac equipped with a Millennium Multileaf Collimator. Plans will be optimized selecting a maximum dose rate of 600 MU/min.