Constraint generation methods for robust optimization in radiation therapy

Publication date: Available online 6 April 2015 Source:Operations Research for Health Care Author(s): Houra Mahmoudzadeh , Thomas G. Purdie , Timothy C.Y. Chan We develop a constraint generation solution method for robust optimization problems in radiation therapy in which the problems include a large number of robust constraints. Each robust constraint must hold for any realization of an uncertain parameter within a given uncertainty set. Because the problems are large scale, the robust counterpart is computationally challenging to solve. To address this challenge, we explore different strategies of adding constraints in a constraint generation solution approach. We motivate and demonstrate our approach using robust intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatment planning for breast cancer. We use clinical data to compare the computational efficiency of our constraint generation strategies with that of directly solving the robust counterpart.

Source: Operations Research for Health Care - April 6, 2015 Category: Hospital Management Source Type: research