A Clinical Interactive Technique for MR-CT Image Registration for Target Delineation of Intracranial Tumors

2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. T. Luu ◽  
R. P. Levy ◽  
D. W. Miller ◽  
K. Shahnazi ◽  
L. T. Yonemoto ◽  
...  

Replacement of current CT-based, three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning systems by newer versions capable of automated multi-modality image registration may be economically prohibitive for most radiation oncology clinics. We present a low-cost technique for MR-CT image registration on a “first generation” CT-based, 3D treatment planning system for intracranial tumors. The technique begins with fabrication of a standard treatment mask. A second truncated mask, the “minimask,” is then made, using the standard mask as a mold. Two orthogonal leveling vials glued onto the minimask detect angular deviations in pitch and roll. Preservation of yaw is verified by referencing a line marked according to the CT laser on the craniocaudal axis. The treatment mask immobilizes the patient's head for CT. The minimask reproduces this CT-based angular treatment position, which is then maintained by taping the appropriately positioned head to the MR head coil for MR scanning. All CT and MR images, in DICOM 3.0 format, are entered into the treatment planning system via a computer network. Interactive registration of MR to CT images is controlled by real-time visual feedback on the computer monitor. Translational misalignments at the target are eliminated or minimized by iterative use of qualitative visual inspection. In this study, rotational errors were measured in a retrospective series of 20 consecutive patients who had undergone CT-MR image registration using this technique. Anatomic structures defined the three CT orthogonal axes from which angular errors on MR image were measured. Translational errors at the target isocenter were within pixel size, as judged by visual inspection. Clinical setup using the minimask resulted in overall average angular deviation of 3°±2° (mean ± SD) and translational deviation within the edges of the target volume of typically less than 2 mm. The accuracy of this registration technique for target delineation of intracranial tumors is compatible with practice guidelines. This method, then, provides a cost-effective means to register MR and CT images for target delineation of intracranial tumors.

Author(s):  
Gholamreza Fallah Mohammadi ◽  
Ehsan Mihandoost

Purpose: Point dose calculation in the Treatment Planning System (TPS) is performed using Computed Tomography (CT) images because CT images data have the tissue electron density information. The effect of CT imaging protocols on the calculation of point doses in TPS is one of the most important subjects that was evaluated in this study. Materials and Methods: CT scan imaging was performed from cylindrical water phantom using three scanner systems and different imaging technical parameters. The CT images data were irradiated in TPS to delivering a 200 cGy radiation dose to the center of the phantom with 6 and 15MV X-Ray photon energy with multiple radiation fields and Monitor Unit (MU) were separately calculated. In the TPS, a virtual water phantom with the same characteristic as CT image phantom was simulated and irradiated with similar conditions. The difference in MU values obtained from two irradiation methods in TPS was compared with Wilcoxon nonparametric test.   Results: Variations of mA, kV, Pitch, slice thickness, and kernel as CT imaging parameters have not significantly affected radiotherapy point dose calculation (<2%). CT imaging protocols as a thin slice, 80 kV, and sharp kernel have the greatest difference between CT image-based calculation and designed phantom calculation in TPS where wedge field and 6 MV photon energy were used. Conclusion: The use of CT images obtained with multiple protocols can be used without having a significant effect on the dose calculations of the treatment planning system.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael García-Mollá ◽  
Noelia de Marco-Blancas ◽  
Jorge Bonaque ◽  
Laura Vidueira ◽  
Juan López-Tarjuelo ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 7574-7574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Xu ◽  
S. Ma ◽  
D. Yu ◽  
J. Wang ◽  
L. Zhang ◽  
...  

7574 Background: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) /computed tomography (CT) has a potential improvement for staging and radiation treatment (RT) planning of various tumor sites. But from a clinical standpoint, the open questions are essentially the following: to what extent does PET/CT change the target volume? Can PET/CT reduce inter-observer variability in target volume delineation? We analyzed the use of FDG-PET/ CT images for staging and evaluated the impact of FDG- PET/CT on the radiotherapy volume delineation compared with CT in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) candidates for radiotherapy. Intraobserver variation in delineating tumor volumes was also observed. Methods: Twenty-three patients with stage I-III NSCLC were enrolled in this pilot study and were treated with fractionated RT based therapy with or without chemotherapy. FDG-PET/CT scans were acquired within 2 weeks prior to RT. PET and CT data sets were sent to the treatment planning system Pinnacle through compact disc. The CT and PET images were subsequently fused by means of a dedicated radiation treatment planning system. Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) was contoured by four radiation oncologists respectively on CT (CT-GTV) and PET/CT images (PET/CT-GTV). The resulting volumes were analyzed and compared. Results: For the first phase, two radiation oncologists outlined together the contours achieving a final consensus. Based on PET/CT, changes in TNM categories occurred in 8/23 cases (35%). Radiation targeting with fused FDG-PET and CT images resulted in alterations in radiation therapy planning in 12/20 patients (60%) by comparison with CT targeting. The most prominent changes in GTV have been observed in cases with atelectasis. For the second phase was four intraobserver variation in delineating tumor volumes. The mean ratio of largest to smallest CT-based GTV was 2.31 (range 1.01–5.96). The addition of the PET data reduced the mean ratio to 1.46 (range 1.12–2.27). Conclusions: PET/CT fusion images could have a potential impact on both tumor staging and treatment planning. Implementing matched PET/CT reduced observer variation in delineating tumor volumes significantly with respect to CT only. [Table: see text]


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyi Yang ◽  
Xiaoqin Zhang ◽  
Bangyu Luo ◽  
Hongjun Liu ◽  
Zhou Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To help radiotherapy doctors recognize and segment the nasopharyngeal organs in risk of Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and make radiotherapy plan. Materials/Methods: Based on the continuous thin-layer, high-precision, high-resolution and true-color sectional anatomical data (Chinese Visible Human (CVH) images),we used B-spline and mutual information to transform, register and fuse the CVH images with the patient's personalized CT images, and integrated them into the Treatment Planning System (TPS). Consequently, Three-Dimensional Visualization Treatment Planning System (3DV + TPS) was created. To verify it, 3DV + TPS was deployed to identify and segment the nasopharyngeal organs in risk of NPC, and a questionnaire was filled out by radiotherapy doctors. Results Result shows that 3DV + TPS can finish registration and fusion of 4 sets of sectional anatomical images and individual CT images of patients in approximately 3 minutes and 50 seconds. Conclusion The registered and fused images can accurately reflect the position, outline and adjacent space of the nasopharyngeal structure which is not clear in the CT images. Thus, it is helpful for recognizing and segmenting neural, muscular and glandular structures. Through automatically registering and fusing of color images and CT gray images, 3DV + TPS improves the accuracy and efficiency of recognizing nasopharyngeal structures in making radiotherapy plan, and it is useful to improve the teaching quality of tumor radiotherapy for medical students and interns as well.


Author(s):  
Anna Ilina

  Orthovoltage radiation therapy (ORT) is a non‑invasive treatment often used for patients with skin cancer, which is characterized by shallow tumours visible at the surface of the skin. Currently there is no commercially available treatment planning system for ORT. The first step of treatment planning is localizing the tumour in a computed tomography (CT) scan of the patient. We propose using 3D surface scanning to obtain a coloured and textured image of the patient, from which the tumour can be identified. The contour of the tumour can then be overlaid onto the CT image, for planning delivery of radiation therapy. This process was demonstrated using a male mannequin model, with a red sticker on the nose representing a skin tumour. A coloured and textured image of the face was obtained using a handheld 3D surface scanner [Figure 1]. The surface scan was aligned to a CT image of the mannequin head using a two‑step registration process, with a resulting error of 0.25mm. The tumour could then be easily segmented from the coloured surface scan by following the outline of the lesion. The tumour contour was extended in depth to 1cm, to encompass subdermal cancerous tissue in the treatment volume, and saved with the CT image for treatment planning [Figure 2]. This workflow is the first step to an open-source treatment planning system for ORT, which will allow physicians to deliver more precise treatment using ORT. This project was done in collaboration with the Kingston General Hospital.  


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document