Methods for optimizing treatment time and plan quality for radiotherapy

A method for generating a graphical user interface (GUI) for radiotherapy planning, the method comprising:

• generating a first fluence map that delivers a prescribed dose to a target region using a cost function having a plurality of penalty functions including a treatment time penalty function that is more heavily weighted than the other penalty functions;
• calculating an amount of time Tmin to deliver the first fluence map;
• generating a second fluence map that delivers a prescribed dose to a target region and optimizes a dose to a radiation-avoidance region;
• calculating an amount of time Tmax to deliver the second fluence map;
• generating a plurality of fluence maps that have treatment delivery times between Tmin and Tmax;
• generating a bounded dose volume histogram (bDVH) for the target region that represents a dose variability across the first fluence map, the second fluence map, and the generated plurality of fluence maps;
• generating a GUI that comprises the bDVH, a treatment time selector configured to specify a treatment delivery time between Tmin and Tmax, and a variable DVH curve for the target region that represents a dose to the target region that corresponds to a variable fluence map that has a treatment delivery time that approximates the specified treatment delivery time;
• and
• outputting the GUI to a display device.