Non-rigid image registration of 4D-MRI data for improved delineation of moving tumors

Abstract Background To increase the image quality of end-expiratory and end-inspiratory phases of retrospective respiratory self-gated 4D MRI data sets using non-rigid image registration for improved target delineation of moving tumors. Methods End-expiratory and end-inspiratory phases of volunteer...

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Main Authors: Stefan Weick, Kathrin Breuer, Anne Richter, Florian Exner, Serge-Peer Ströhle, Paul Lutyj, Jörg Tamihardja, Simon Veldhoen, Michael Flentje, Bülent Polat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-04-01
Series:BMC Medical Imaging
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Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12880-020-00439-6
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author Stefan Weick
Kathrin Breuer
Anne Richter
Florian Exner
Serge-Peer Ströhle
Paul Lutyj
Jörg Tamihardja
Simon Veldhoen
Michael Flentje
Bülent Polat
author_facet Stefan Weick
Kathrin Breuer
Anne Richter
Florian Exner
Serge-Peer Ströhle
Paul Lutyj
Jörg Tamihardja
Simon Veldhoen
Michael Flentje
Bülent Polat
author_sort Stefan Weick
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background To increase the image quality of end-expiratory and end-inspiratory phases of retrospective respiratory self-gated 4D MRI data sets using non-rigid image registration for improved target delineation of moving tumors. Methods End-expiratory and end-inspiratory phases of volunteer and patient 4D MRI data sets are used as targets for non-rigid image registration of all other phases using two different registration schemes: In the first, all phases are registered directly (dir-Reg) while next neighbors are successively registered until the target is reached in the second (nn-Reg). Resulting data sets are quantitatively compared using diaphragm and tumor sharpness and the coefficient of variation of regions of interest in the lung, liver, and heart. Qualitative assessment of the patient data regarding noise level, tumor delineation, and overall image quality was performed by blinded reading based on a 4 point Likert scale. Results The median coefficient of variation was lower for both registration schemes compared to the target. Median dir-Reg coefficient of variation of all ROIs was 5.6% lower for expiration and 7.0% lower for inspiration compared with nn-Reg. Statistical significant differences between the two schemes were found in all comparisons. Median sharpness in inspiration is lower compared to expiration sharpness in all cases. Registered data sets were rated better compared to the targets in all categories. Over all categories, mean expiration scores were 2.92 ± 0.18 for the target, 3.19 ± 0.22 for nn-Reg and 3.56 ± 0.14 for dir-Reg and mean inspiration scores 2.25 ± 0.12 for the target, 2.72 ± 215 0.04 for nn-Reg and 3.78 ± 0.04 for dir-Reg. Conclusions In this work, end-expiratory and inspiratory phases of a 4D MRI data sets are used as targets for non-rigid image registration of all other phases. It is qualitatively and quantitatively shown that image quality of the targets can be significantly enhanced leading to improved target delineation of moving tumors.
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spelling doaj.art-0f475d77178f4cf489099d9b6d5c84ee2022-12-22T03:39:52ZengBMCBMC Medical Imaging1471-23422020-04-0120111010.1186/s12880-020-00439-6Non-rigid image registration of 4D-MRI data for improved delineation of moving tumorsStefan Weick0Kathrin Breuer1Anne Richter2Florian Exner3Serge-Peer Ströhle4Paul Lutyj5Jörg Tamihardja6Simon Veldhoen7Michael Flentje8Bülent Polat9Department of Radiation Oncology, University of WuerzburgDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of WuerzburgDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of WuerzburgDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of WuerzburgDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of WuerzburgDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of WuerzburgDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of WuerzburgDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of WuerzburgDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of WuerzburgDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of WuerzburgAbstract Background To increase the image quality of end-expiratory and end-inspiratory phases of retrospective respiratory self-gated 4D MRI data sets using non-rigid image registration for improved target delineation of moving tumors. Methods End-expiratory and end-inspiratory phases of volunteer and patient 4D MRI data sets are used as targets for non-rigid image registration of all other phases using two different registration schemes: In the first, all phases are registered directly (dir-Reg) while next neighbors are successively registered until the target is reached in the second (nn-Reg). Resulting data sets are quantitatively compared using diaphragm and tumor sharpness and the coefficient of variation of regions of interest in the lung, liver, and heart. Qualitative assessment of the patient data regarding noise level, tumor delineation, and overall image quality was performed by blinded reading based on a 4 point Likert scale. Results The median coefficient of variation was lower for both registration schemes compared to the target. Median dir-Reg coefficient of variation of all ROIs was 5.6% lower for expiration and 7.0% lower for inspiration compared with nn-Reg. Statistical significant differences between the two schemes were found in all comparisons. Median sharpness in inspiration is lower compared to expiration sharpness in all cases. Registered data sets were rated better compared to the targets in all categories. Over all categories, mean expiration scores were 2.92 ± 0.18 for the target, 3.19 ± 0.22 for nn-Reg and 3.56 ± 0.14 for dir-Reg and mean inspiration scores 2.25 ± 0.12 for the target, 2.72 ± 215 0.04 for nn-Reg and 3.78 ± 0.04 for dir-Reg. Conclusions In this work, end-expiratory and inspiratory phases of a 4D MRI data sets are used as targets for non-rigid image registration of all other phases. It is qualitatively and quantitatively shown that image quality of the targets can be significantly enhanced leading to improved target delineation of moving tumors.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12880-020-00439-64D-MRIRespiratory induced tumor motionNon-rigid image registrationRadiotherapy treatment planning
spellingShingle Stefan Weick
Kathrin Breuer
Anne Richter
Florian Exner
Serge-Peer Ströhle
Paul Lutyj
Jörg Tamihardja
Simon Veldhoen
Michael Flentje
Bülent Polat
Non-rigid image registration of 4D-MRI data for improved delineation of moving tumors
BMC Medical Imaging
4D-MRI
Respiratory induced tumor motion
Non-rigid image registration
Radiotherapy treatment planning
title Non-rigid image registration of 4D-MRI data for improved delineation of moving tumors
title_full Non-rigid image registration of 4D-MRI data for improved delineation of moving tumors
title_fullStr Non-rigid image registration of 4D-MRI data for improved delineation of moving tumors
title_full_unstemmed Non-rigid image registration of 4D-MRI data for improved delineation of moving tumors
title_short Non-rigid image registration of 4D-MRI data for improved delineation of moving tumors
title_sort non rigid image registration of 4d mri data for improved delineation of moving tumors
topic 4D-MRI
Respiratory induced tumor motion
Non-rigid image registration
Radiotherapy treatment planning
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12880-020-00439-6
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