Quality assurance of a breathing controlled four-dimensional computed tomography algorithm
Background & purpose: Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans are standardly used for radiotherapy planning of tumors subject to respiratory motion. Based on online analysis and automatic adaption of scan parameters to the patient’s individual breathing pattern, a new breathing-con...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405631622000550 |
| _version_ | 1811276690756730880 |
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| author | Juliane Szkitsak Andre Karius Christian Hofmann Rainer Fietkau Christoph Bert Stefan Speer |
| author_facet | Juliane Szkitsak Andre Karius Christian Hofmann Rainer Fietkau Christoph Bert Stefan Speer |
| author_sort | Juliane Szkitsak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background & purpose: Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans are standardly used for radiotherapy planning of tumors subject to respiratory motion. Based on online analysis and automatic adaption of scan parameters to the patient’s individual breathing pattern, a new breathing-controlled 4DCT (i4DCT) algorithm attempts to counteract irregular breathing and thus prevent artifacts. The aim of this study was to perform an initial quality assurance for i4DCT. Material & methods: To validate the i4DCT algorithm, phantom measurements were performed to evaluate geometric accuracy (diameter, volume, eccentricity), image quality (dose-normalized contrast-noise-ratio, CT number accuracy), and correct representation of motion amplitude of simulated tumor lesions. Furthermore, the impact of patient weight and resulting table flexion on the measurements was investigated. Static three-dimensional CT (3DCT) scans were used as ground truth. Results: The median volume deviation magnitude between 4DCT and 3DCT was < 2% (<0.2 cm3). The volume differences ranged from –8% (–1.0 cm3) to 3% (0.4 cm3). Median tumor diameter deviation magnitudes were < 2% (<0.7 mm) for regular and < 3.5% (<1.0 mm) for irregular breathing. For eccentricity, a median deviation magnitude of < 0.05 for regular and < 0.08 for irregular breathing curves was found. The respiratory amplitude was represented with a median accuracy of < 0.5 mm. CT numbers and dose-normalized contrast-noise-ratio showed no clinically relevant difference between 4DCT and 3DCT. Table flexion proved to have no clinically relevant impact on geometric accuracy. Conclusions: The breathing-controlled algorithm provides in general good results regarding image quality, geometric accuracy, and correct depiction of motion amplitude for regular and irregular breathing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:02:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a559e3911b54e1ebade3bbcd3749d1f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-6316 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:02:17Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a559e3911b54e1ebade3bbcd3749d1f2022-12-22T03:11:19ZengElsevierPhysics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology2405-63162022-07-01238591Quality assurance of a breathing controlled four-dimensional computed tomography algorithmJuliane Szkitsak0Andre Karius1Christian Hofmann2Rainer Fietkau3Christoph Bert4Stefan Speer5Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Siemens Healthcare GmbH, 91301 Forchheim, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany; Corresponding author at: Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Department of Radiation Oncology, Erlangen, Germany.Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, GermanyBackground & purpose: Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans are standardly used for radiotherapy planning of tumors subject to respiratory motion. Based on online analysis and automatic adaption of scan parameters to the patient’s individual breathing pattern, a new breathing-controlled 4DCT (i4DCT) algorithm attempts to counteract irregular breathing and thus prevent artifacts. The aim of this study was to perform an initial quality assurance for i4DCT. Material & methods: To validate the i4DCT algorithm, phantom measurements were performed to evaluate geometric accuracy (diameter, volume, eccentricity), image quality (dose-normalized contrast-noise-ratio, CT number accuracy), and correct representation of motion amplitude of simulated tumor lesions. Furthermore, the impact of patient weight and resulting table flexion on the measurements was investigated. Static three-dimensional CT (3DCT) scans were used as ground truth. Results: The median volume deviation magnitude between 4DCT and 3DCT was < 2% (<0.2 cm3). The volume differences ranged from –8% (–1.0 cm3) to 3% (0.4 cm3). Median tumor diameter deviation magnitudes were < 2% (<0.7 mm) for regular and < 3.5% (<1.0 mm) for irregular breathing. For eccentricity, a median deviation magnitude of < 0.05 for regular and < 0.08 for irregular breathing curves was found. The respiratory amplitude was represented with a median accuracy of < 0.5 mm. CT numbers and dose-normalized contrast-noise-ratio showed no clinically relevant difference between 4DCT and 3DCT. Table flexion proved to have no clinically relevant impact on geometric accuracy. Conclusions: The breathing-controlled algorithm provides in general good results regarding image quality, geometric accuracy, and correct depiction of motion amplitude for regular and irregular breathing.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S24056316220005504DCTQuality assuranceRespiratory motion |
| spellingShingle | Juliane Szkitsak Andre Karius Christian Hofmann Rainer Fietkau Christoph Bert Stefan Speer Quality assurance of a breathing controlled four-dimensional computed tomography algorithm Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology 4DCT Quality assurance Respiratory motion |
| title | Quality assurance of a breathing controlled four-dimensional computed tomography algorithm |
| title_full | Quality assurance of a breathing controlled four-dimensional computed tomography algorithm |
| title_fullStr | Quality assurance of a breathing controlled four-dimensional computed tomography algorithm |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality assurance of a breathing controlled four-dimensional computed tomography algorithm |
| title_short | Quality assurance of a breathing controlled four-dimensional computed tomography algorithm |
| title_sort | quality assurance of a breathing controlled four dimensional computed tomography algorithm |
| topic | 4DCT Quality assurance Respiratory motion |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405631622000550 |
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