Lung compensator design using an electronic portal imaging device.

Using a liquid filled electronic portal imaging device (EPID) installed on a linear accelerator and a composite chest phantom, exit dose measurements were carried out to establish an empirical relationship between the pixel values of the imaging detector and the corresponding equivalent thickness of the overlying phantom material. Results for 6 and 10 MV photons show that the relationship depends on the so-called input/output characteristics of the imaging device for a particular photon energy. For a chest irradiation, an EPID image obtained under treatment geometry provides the pixel value information that is used to calculate the tissue deficit over the lung region. The compensators are made of lead whose thickness is calculated from the established empirical relationship to replace the tissue deficit over lungs. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated with thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) for 6 and 10 MV beams. With compensators in place, the dose uniformity was found to be within +/- 5%.     

An empirical calibration method for an a-Si portal imaging device: applications in pretreatment verification of IMRT

PURPOSE: A new calibration method for an amorphoussilicon (a-Si) electronic portal imaging device (EPID) used for dose measurements in pretreatment verification (field-related) of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with sliding-window technique. The method is independent of data contained in the multileaf collimator (MLC) leaf-motion files and of any calculations made by the treatment planning system (TPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sensitivity of the EPID is dependent on radiation energy. For fluence-modulated fields, different dose/reading calibration factors are associated with each pixel of the image acquired by calculating equivalent areas representing the exact ratio between primary and scatter components. The dose measured in the detector plane was compared with that calculated with TPS by using gamma-analysis. Each calibration factor was compared with that calculated by considering the individual contributions of primary and secondary radiation obtained using the convolution method with analytical kernel for homogeneous media. RESULTS: In 837/854 (98%) of the clinical fields analysed, the proportion of irradiated area in which the gamma-index was <1.0 exceeded 95%. The overall average gamma-index was 0.39. There was good agreement between the dose/reading calibration factors obtained with the empirical algorithm and with the convolution method. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed calibration method is suitable for routine clinical pretreatment verification in IMRT.     

A comparative evaluation of two head and neck immobilization devices using electronic portal imaging

A study was performed to compare the positioning reproducibility and the cost efficiency for two head and neck immobilization devices: the Uvex (Uvex Safety, Smithfield, USA) plastic mask system and the Finesse Frame with Ultraplast System (PLANET Medical, Svendborg, Denmark). 20 patients treated with 3D conformal radiation therapy for head and neck cancers were randomly selected (10 for each of the two different immobilization systems) and electronic portal images acquired during their course of treatment were saved and used in this study. The anatomical landmark coordinates and their shifts in the anteroposterior (AP) and craniocaudal (CC) directions with respect to the digitized simulator films for lateral fields were analysed using an in-house developed portal image registration system. Statistically, no evidence was found to indicate that the systematic components of the displacement for the Uvex system and the Finesse Frame with Ultraplast System were different from each other or from zero. The random component of displacement was slightly smaller in the AP direction for the Uvex than the Ultraplast system (sigma = 1.9 mm and 2.9 mm, respectively, p = 0.007), but larger in the CC direction (sigma = 3.8 mm and 2.2 mm, respectively, p<10(-9)). Production time and required materials for a radiation therapy department were also quantified to assess costs for each system. The overall costs per patient were estimated at 141.50 dollars (CAD) and 82.10 dollars for the Uvex and Ultraplast systems, respectively. The Finesse Frame with Ultraplast System of immobilization for head and neck cancer treatment provides a field placement reproducibility that is equal to, or greater than, that of the Uvex plastic mask immobilization system and, while it requires more expensive materials, the workload and consequently overall cost is greatly reduced.     

基于电子射野影像系统与加速器日志文件重建模体内剂量的初步比较

目的 研究基于电子射野影像系统（EPID）与加速器日志文件（dynalogs file）重建模体内剂量的差异性。方法 收集12例盆腔患者的容积旋转调强（VMAT）计划,将计划信息复制到“Cheese”模体上重新计算剂量,而后在瓦里安加速器（RapidArc）上执行,“Cheese”模体置于等中心处获取射野影像（EPI）,将EPI传入EPIgray软件中重建剂量。同时利用Mobius软件调用加速器日志文件,实现对模体计划剂量的重建。以A1SL型号的电离室和配套的剂量仪测量整个计划执行结束后射野等中心（电离室中心）处剂量值,在计划系统（TPS）中读取电离室敏感体积体内的平均剂量值（设置电离室中心与等中心重合）。结果 电离室测量值与TPS中读取的等中心处剂量值相比,两者偏差为1.31%。两种方式重建的射野等中心的剂量分别与电离室测量数值相比,差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 两种重建体内剂量的方法均能为VMAT在体剂量验证提供参考。     

基于电子射野影像系统建立医用直线加速器晨检工具的临床测试

目的 利用电子射野影像系统（EPID）建立加速器快速晨检工具,并进行评估。方法 用Synergy加速器EPID测得10 cm×10 cm开野及楔形野图像,由Matlab提取并分析图像参数,实现快速晨检。对EPID剂量-机械重复性、灰度值与MU值线性、输出量及射野大小测量准确性测试,用电离室、EPID分别测量Synergy输出量随MU变化情况,用DailyQA3及研究中所开发的工具对Synergy进行2个月的监测。结果 EPID剂量重复性测试稳定,射野大小和中心测试精度分别为0.5和1.0 mm,平坦度和对称性测试精度均为0.17%;机械精度测试结果与剂量重复性测试一致。EPID对加速器输出剂量响应线性相关（R²>0.999）。EPID对输出剂量和射野大小的探测灵敏度较高。EPID与DailyQA3所有临床测试结果均在允许限值内,且两种结果一致。结论 EPID剂量-机械稳定性及响应线性均良好,输出量及射野大小监测结果均准确,研究中建立的晨检工具准确可靠。     

电子射野影像装置位置误差对容积旋转调强放疗三维剂量验证的影响

目的 探讨电子射野影像装置（EPID）位置误差对容积旋转调强放疗（VMAT）三维剂量验证的影响。方法 5枚Suremark SL-20铅点固定于Elekta托盘上,通过采集机架在0~360°旋转中EPID图像,分析各角度下EPID相对于加速器机头的位置偏移,根据该偏移对进行三维剂量重建的EPID图像进行位置误差修正,分析EPID运动误差对剂量重建的影响。分别对16例鼻咽癌患者的VMAT计划的双弧、顺时针弧（弧1）、逆时针弧（弧2）的重建剂量与计划剂量做γ分析,并对修正前后的γ分析结果进行分析。结果 相对于0°,源到探测器距离（SID）在180°时误差最大,为1.20 cm。考虑SID变化后计算的EPID上下（y）方向误差最大为2.28 mm（等中心层面）,左右（x）方向误差在±0.5 mm以内。对16例鼻咽癌双弧VMAT治疗计划进行治疗前三维剂量验证,EPID y方向位置误差修正后3D γ通过率明显提高,5%/3 mm标准下的γ通过率提高分别为双弧（4.12±1.67）%（t=-9.86,P<0.05）,弧1（3.47±1.64）%（t=-8.46,P<0.05）,弧2（5.08±1.30）%（t=-15.63,P<0.05）;3%/3 mm标准下,γ通过率提高分别为双弧（7.63±2.24）%（t=-13.63,P<0.05）,弧1（6.03±2.07）%（t=-11.66,P<0.05）,弧2（9.17±2.23）%（t=-16.41,P<0.05）。y方向修正后,再进行x方向修正,5%/3 mm和3%/3 mm γ通过率的平均值分别提高0.23%和0.24%。结论 EPID沿加速器机架到治疗床方向运动误差明显,对三维剂量重建影响较大。在基于EPID的剂量重建中,应对其进行修正,以重建较准确的患者三维剂量分布。     

An assessment of clinically optimal gold marker length and diameter for pelvic radiotherapy verification using an amorphous silicon flat panel electronic portal imaging device

Verification of target organ position is essential for the accurate delivery of conformal radiotherapy. Megavoltage electronic portal imaging with flat panel amorphous silicon detectors delivers high quality images that can be used for verification of bony landmark position. Gold markers implanted into the target organ can be visualized and used as a surrogate of actual organ position. On-line compensation for marker displacement, by adjusting patient position, can reduce geometric errors associated with radiation delivery. This study assesses the optimal marker length and diameter to be used with an amorphous silicon (a-Si) flat panel detector and electronic portal images (EPIs), prior to implementation of a clinical programme of gold marker insertion in prostate cancer patients. Seven marker sizes varying from 3 mm to 8 mm in length and 0.8 mm to 1.1 mm in diameter were investigated in a group of patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy using an 8 MV Elekta SL20 linear accelerator. Markers were placed on the skin entry and exit sites of the treatment beam and EPIs in both lateral and anterior pelvic views were acquired. Three observers independently assessed visibility success and failure using a subjective scoring system. Markers less than 5 mm in length or 0.9 mm in diameter were poorly visualized (<70% visualization success in lateral EPIs). The marker measuring 0.9 mm x 5 mm appears to be clinically optimal in pelvic radiotherapy patients (80% visualization success in lateral EPIs) and will be used for actual organ implantation.     

基于蒙特卡罗数学模型两种脊柱全景X射线成像技术受检者辐射剂量的对比研究

目的 比较两种脊柱全景X射线成像技术对受检者产生的辐射剂量。方法 使用仿真体模进行实验,摸索出该体模在日本岛津Sonialvision safire17设备Slot scan脊柱全景成像的适宜成像条件,然后在GE Discovery XR650型DR系统上对该体模进行不同曝光条件的DR脊柱全景成像,3位有经验的放射科医生对两种成像技术的图像进行评分,选择图像质量评分均值最接近的对应成像参数为实验成像参数。将相关成像参数及X射线机信息输入PCXMC 2.0软件,计算受检者脊柱全景成像的器官吸收剂量和有效剂量。结果 Slot scan脊柱全景成像的适宜成像条件为高质量全景成像模式(HQ模式)、SID 150 cm、100 kVp和2 mAs, DR手动曝光模式脊柱全景成像相当图像质量的成像条件为SID 200 cm、100 kVp和3.2 mAs。Slot scan HQ模式、DR手动曝光模式和DR自动曝光模式脊柱全景成像的有效剂量(E)分别为(0.118 7±0.001 4)、(0.084 7±0.000 8)和(0.158 0±0.001 5) mSv,DR手动曝光模式的有效剂量明显低于其余2种模式(F=3 007.293,P<0.05);除乳腺以外,DR手动曝光模式的器官剂量均低于Slot scan HQ模式的器官剂量(P<0.05);除甲状腺、食管、肺以外,DR自动曝光模式的器官剂量均高于另外两种成像方式的器官剂量(P<0.05)。结论 两种手动全景成像技术的辐射剂量均处于较低水平,合理选择全景成像技术的曝光参数和模式可实现低剂量全景X射线成像。     

基于肝脾及门静脉MRI形态学特征的Logistic回归模型预测乙肝肝硬化继发食管胃底静脉曲张出血风险

目的 探讨基于肝脾及门静脉MRI形态学特征的新模型预测乙肝肝硬化继发食管胃底静脉曲张出血（OVB）的价值。方法 前瞻性分析210例连续性乙肝肝硬化病人的肝脾及门静脉MRI形态学特征及临床资料,采用随机数字表法按7∶3的比例将病人分为训练集（147例）和验证集（63例）。2年随访期内,训练集和验证集分别有47例和21例发生OVB。在训练集,采用卡方检验、t检验或Mann-Whitney U检验比较有和无OVB病人间肝脾及门静脉MRI形态学特征及临床资料的差异。将差异有统计学意义的指标纳入多因素Logistic回归分析,获得OVB的独立预测因素。基于独立预测因素构建OVB预测模型,并通过受试者操作特征（ROC）曲线下面积（AUC）评估模型的预测效能,最后在验证集通过Kappa检验验证模型的预测效能。结果 训练集中,OVB病人肝右叶及全肝体积小于无OVB病人（均P<0.05）,左内叶、左外叶及尾叶体积在有和无OVB的病人间差异无统计学意义（均P>0.05）。OVB病人脾体积、脾体积与各肝叶体积的比值、门静脉系统直径及腹水发生率均大于无OVB病人（均P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示肝右叶体积、胃左静脉直径、门静脉直径以及腹水（比值比分别为0.994、2.24、1.571及3.983,均P<0.05）是OVB的独立预测因素,基于独立预测因素建立的Logistic模型预测OVB的效能极佳（AUC=0.934）。在验证集,预测模型效能也极佳（κ=0.828）。结论 本研究建立的Logistic模型预测继发于乙肝肝硬化的OVB具有较高的预测效能。