Tumor delineation: The weakest link in the search for accuracy in radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is one of the most effective modalities for the treatment of cancer. However, there is a high degree of uncertainty associated with the target volume of most cancer sites. The sources of these uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the motion of the target, patient setup errors,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2008-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Physics |
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| Online Access: | http://www.jmp.org.in/article.asp?issn=0971-6203;year=2008;volume=33;issue=4;spage=136;epage=140;aulast=Njeh |
| _version_ | 1828806834364874752 |
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| author | Njeh C |
| author_facet | Njeh C |
| author_sort | Njeh C |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Radiotherapy is one of the most effective modalities for the treatment of cancer. However, there is a high degree of uncertainty associated with the target volume of most cancer sites. The sources of these uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the motion of the target, patient setup errors, patient movements, and the delineation of the target volume. Recently, many imaging techniques have been introduced to track the motion of tumors. The treatment delivery using these techniques is collectively called image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Ultimately, IGRT is only as good as the accuracy with which the target is known. There are reports of interobserver variability in tumor delineation across anatomical sites, but the widest ranges of variations have been reported for the delineation of head and neck tumors as well as esophageal and lung carcinomas. Significant interobserver variability in target delineation can be attributed to many factors including the impact of imaging and the influence of the observer (specialty, training, and personal bias). The visibility of the target can be greatly improved with the use of multimodality imaging by co-registration of CT with a second modality such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or positron emission tomography. Also, continuous education, training, and cross-collaboration of the radiation oncologist with other specialties can reduce the degree of variability in tumor delineation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:15:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7945c5b50f12471eb057ba0cfe65414a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0971-6203 1998-3913 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:15:30Z |
| publishDate | 2008-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-7945c5b50f12471eb057ba0cfe65414a2022-12-22T00:31:36ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Medical Physics0971-62031998-39132008-01-01334136140Tumor delineation: The weakest link in the search for accuracy in radiotherapyNjeh CRadiotherapy is one of the most effective modalities for the treatment of cancer. However, there is a high degree of uncertainty associated with the target volume of most cancer sites. The sources of these uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the motion of the target, patient setup errors, patient movements, and the delineation of the target volume. Recently, many imaging techniques have been introduced to track the motion of tumors. The treatment delivery using these techniques is collectively called image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Ultimately, IGRT is only as good as the accuracy with which the target is known. There are reports of interobserver variability in tumor delineation across anatomical sites, but the widest ranges of variations have been reported for the delineation of head and neck tumors as well as esophageal and lung carcinomas. Significant interobserver variability in target delineation can be attributed to many factors including the impact of imaging and the influence of the observer (specialty, training, and personal bias). The visibility of the target can be greatly improved with the use of multimodality imaging by co-registration of CT with a second modality such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or positron emission tomography. Also, continuous education, training, and cross-collaboration of the radiation oncologist with other specialties can reduce the degree of variability in tumor delineation.http://www.jmp.org.in/article.asp?issn=0971-6203;year=2008;volume=33;issue=4;spage=136;epage=140;aulast=NjehImage-guided therapyradiation therapytumor delineation |
| spellingShingle | Njeh C Tumor delineation: The weakest link in the search for accuracy in radiotherapy Journal of Medical Physics Image-guided therapy radiation therapy tumor delineation |
| title | Tumor delineation: The weakest link in the search for accuracy in radiotherapy |
| title_full | Tumor delineation: The weakest link in the search for accuracy in radiotherapy |
| title_fullStr | Tumor delineation: The weakest link in the search for accuracy in radiotherapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tumor delineation: The weakest link in the search for accuracy in radiotherapy |
| title_short | Tumor delineation: The weakest link in the search for accuracy in radiotherapy |
| title_sort | tumor delineation the weakest link in the search for accuracy in radiotherapy |
| topic | Image-guided therapy radiation therapy tumor delineation |
| url | http://www.jmp.org.in/article.asp?issn=0971-6203;year=2008;volume=33;issue=4;spage=136;epage=140;aulast=Njeh |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT njehc tumordelineationtheweakestlinkinthesearchforaccuracyinradiotherapy |