在线校正对前列腺癌图像引导调强放疗剂量的影响

前列腺癌调强放疗技术的开展已有十余年,已有大量研究证明调强放疗能显著降低膀胱直肠受量,提高靶区适形度,从而能提高靶区照射剂量[1-2].在前列腺癌调强放疗实施过程中,摆位误差、器官的运动造成的分次间误差和分次内误差会造成靶区漏照和危及器官超量等现象[3-4].近年来开展的图像引导放疗(IGRT)技术能在线校正摆位误差,能安全给予靶区更高的剂量.本研究通过分析摆位误差对前列腺癌调强放疗剂量的影响,探讨在线校正对前列腺癌调强放射治疗的必要性.     

兆伏级锥形束CT图像引导放疗所致鼻咽癌患者剂量的探讨

目的 评价和估算兆伏级锥形束CT(MV CBCT)成像系统在图像引导放疗中所致鼻咽癌患者的辐射剂量。方法 选择MV CBCT系统头颈部8 MU扫描预案,利用0.65 cm³指型电离室和CT头部剂量体模测量出体模不同位置的吸收剂量。并利用XiO治疗计划系统模拟MV CBCT扫描过程,计算体模电离室测量点的吸收剂量和鼻咽癌患者肿瘤靶区及危及器官的吸收剂量。结果 体模不同位置吸收剂量的测量值和计算值具有很好的一致性,相对误差均小于3.5%。MV CBCT图像引导放疗所致鼻咽癌患者肿瘤靶区平均剂量为6.43 cGy,脑干、脊髓和视交叉的平均剂量分别为6.36 、6.83和6.90 cGy,左、右视神经平均剂量分别为7.70和7.53 cGy,左、右腮腺平均剂量分别为6.86和6.43 cGy。结论 使用治疗计划系统模拟MV CBCT图像采集过程估算剂量准确、可靠。在设计患者治疗计划时,要充分考虑MV CBCT图像采集过程所致患者剂量。     

CBCT影像引导非小细胞肺癌三维适形放疗靶区位置及体积变化分析

尽管三维适形放疗(3D-CRT)以其照射野形状和剂量分布与肿瘤靶区的适形性为非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)照射剂量的提高和正常组织的保护创造了条件,但摆位误差和器官运动等因素的影响导致了NSCLC 3D-CRT治疗计划制定时计划靶区(PTY)确定和施照过程中肿瘤位置的不确定性,而影像引导放疗(IGRT)是分析和解决摆位误差和器官运动等因素对PTV确定及其施照过程中肿瘤位置变化影响的重要途径.     

加速器MVCBCT扫描图像在自适应放疗中应用的可行性研究

目的 探讨加速器成像射束影像系统（IBL）的全扇形束和大射野（EFOV）两种模式扫描得到的兆伏级锥形束断层（MV CBCT）图像可否用于剂量计算。方法 利用大孔径CT和在IBL的全扇形束和EFOV模式下对CIRS 062M型电子密度模体进行扫描,在Pinnacle计划系统中分别建立电子密度曲线。用CT和加速器MV级CBCT模式扫描头颈、胸、腹盆腔部仿真模体,利用CT图像制作调强计划,并将计划移植于MV CBCT的图像中,利用相应的电子密度曲线计算剂量,比较靶区及危及器官剂量分布。结果 MV CBCT图像中剂量分布比参考计划剂量偏低,并且在头颈、胸、腹盆腔模体中偏差依次增大。与参考计划相比,头颈部靶区剂量和危及器官剂量分布一致,偏差均在3%以内。胸部和腹盆腔靶区和危及器官的剂量分布均有大幅度的降低,偏差分别达到5%和10%,超出了临床接受范围。结论 在加速器IBL中全扇形束模式条件下,头颈部患者扫描得到的MV CBCT图像可在自适应放疗中用于剂量计算,胸、腹盆腔部位在EFOV模式下仅可用于图像引导,不能用于剂量计算。     

3种图像模式在影像引导放射治疗中的差异性研究

目的 检测并分析电子射野影像系统( EPID)、kV级平面摄像(kV planar)、kV级锥形束CT( CBCT)3种图像模式在影像引导放疗(IGRT)中摆位误差的精度.方法 通过在计划系统的模体CT图像上模拟25组摆位偏差,生成25组DRR参考图像和25组三维CT参考图像,分别与模体在原点位置获取的EPID,kV planar和CBCT 3种图像模式进行图像配准和摆位误差的测量,检测并比较3种图像模式在摆位误差测量中的精度.结果 共读取675组残留误差,3种图像及其相应的配准方法均具有较高的精确度,残留误差的平均值在x、y、z方向上均＜1 mm,CBCT的灰度值配准精度＜0.1 mm,kV planar图像在手动配准时其测量摆位误差的精度好于EPID(＜0.65 mm),在自动配准方法时与EPID具有同等的精度.结论 医院IGRT系统的3种图像模式及其相应的配准方法均可以满足临床应用,CBCT为首选,结合图像质量、成像剂量和配准精度等因素,kV planar优于EPID.     

腮腺癌术后高危复发区放疗的不同治疗计划剂量学比较

目的 探讨腮腺癌术后高危复发区用何种照射方法可以更有效的使靶区剂量均匀及更好的保护危及器官.方法 对8例腮腺癌术后患者设计治疗计划,处方剂量为95%计划靶区(PTV)60 Gy/30次.对常规放疗、二维适形放疗(2D-CRT)、三维适形放疗(3D-CRT)和调强放疗(IMRT)等放射治疗技术的腮腺癌术后靶区进行放疗计划设计,分析比较各种治疗计划靶区适形度和在保护危及器官等方面的优劣.结果 在2D-CRT时,以计算点深度取3.5 cm,电子线能量采取12 MeV及X射线/电子射线(X/E)剂量比为1∶2时靶区的适形度和均匀度较好,危及器官的受量较低.与2D-CRT比较,常规放疗照射野能够较好地包括CT断层图像上勾画的靶区.与2D-CRT及3D-CRT相比,IMRT计划有最好的靶区适形度及均匀度,同时对危及器官有较好的保护作用.结论 X射线与电子线混合线束照射时,剂量计算点深度取3.5 cm左右、电子线能量采取12 MeV及X/E剂量比为1∶2时,靶区的适形度和均匀度较好,对正常组织的保护较好,但具体患者最好用计划系统来选择以上指标.常规放疗按解剖标志确定的照射野能够较好地包括三维靶区.IMRT计划的靶区适形度及均匀度最好,并且危及器官受量较低,在腮腺癌术后放射治疗中IMRT技术是值得推广并普及的放射治疗技术.     

宫颈癌调强放疗中靶区变化与剂量分析

目的 通过螺旋断层放疗系统(TOMO)观察宫颈癌治疗过程中,肿瘤及邻近组织器官移动所导致的靶区受照剂量的改变。方法 选取2013年8月至2014年2月于本院行TOMO治疗的5例宫颈癌患者,每次治疗前行兆伏级CT(MVCT)扫描与计划CT图像配准后,重新计算剂量分布并勾画肿瘤及靶区。分析分次治疗间肿瘤与靶区体积、位移与受照剂量之间的关系。结果 5例患者外照射结束时宫颈肿物体积、最大径分别平均下降68.90%、26.91%(t=5.21、8.39,P<0.05)。肿瘤、子宫、临床靶区(CTV)质心左右、前后、头脚方向中位位移分别为-1.43、-7.72、0.02、0.40、-1.24、-6.51、-0.43、-1.68和-0.22 mm。CTV中位V_95%为99.40%(95.96%~100%),中位漏照体积为6.94 cm³(0~32.30 cm³)。结论 宫颈癌放疗中,肿瘤变化、位置的移动与生理运动等因素的影响,使靶区实际受照剂量与初始计划存在差异,部分靶区漏照,在图像引导放疗(IGRT)下,漏照体积较少。     

常规计划设计中靶剂量给定点的选取

放射治疗通常是根据患者的肿瘤分布情况,结合肿瘤具体的临床表现,如类型、期别及所在部位,放疗医生在CT定位片图像勾画出靶区———肿瘤靶区(grosstumorvolume,GTV)、临床靶区(clinicaltarget volume,CTV)和确定计划靶区(planningtargetvol ume,PTV)的范围,给出靶剂量与周围正常组织特别是危及器官的最大允许剂量等,并同物理师一起借助计划系统进行治疗计划设计。较好的计划设计应在满足临床剂量学四原则[1]的基础上,确定合适的靶剂量给定点。所谓靶剂量是指使肿瘤靶区得到控制或治愈的肿瘤致死剂量[2],靶剂量给定是指给予靶区靶剂量。…     

固定野调强放疗对局部晚期肺癌放射性肺炎的影响

放射性肺炎(RP)是胸部放射治疗最主要的剂量限制性不良反应.三维适形放疗(3D-CRT)能够使靶区剂量分布与靶区形状保持一致,靶区周围危及器官暴露体积减少,有可能使患者生存获益[1].固定野调强放疗(IMRT)较3D-CRT进一步提高靶区的剂量学参数,满足靶区剂量分布的需要,更好地避免对危及器官的照射,有助于提升靶区剂量[2-3],即IMRT降低高剂量区参数(如双肺V20和V30)的同时可能会增加低剂量区参数(如双肺V5).早期研究发现V20和V30与RP发生风险相关[4],近年来发现V5与RP也具有显著相关性[5].本研究以3D-CRT为比较,回顾分析了IMRT对RP发生率的影响.     

不同CT值赋值法对脑转移瘤放疗剂量计算影响的研究

目的研究不同CT值赋值法对脑转移瘤放疗计划剂量计算的影响,为基于磁共振(MR)图像进行放疗计划设计提供基础。方法选取35例接受放疗的脑转移瘤患者,每位患者在放疗前同一天分别进行CT和MR模拟定位,基于CT图像制定三维适形放射治疗(3D-CRT)或调强放射治疗(IMRT)计划为原计划Plan1。将CT图像和MR图像刚性配准,在CT和MR图像上勾画主要的组织和器官,计算各组织器官的群体化CT值。基于CT图像,采用3种CT值赋值法生成3组伪CT,分别为:全组织赋予140 HU;空腔、骨骼和软组织分别赋予-700、700和20 HU;不同组织器官分别赋予群体化的CT值。Plan1在3组伪CT上重新计算剂量分布,分别获得Plan2、Plan3、Plan4,然后比较这3组计划和Plan1的剂量学差异。结果骨骼、空腔平均CT值分别为(735.3±68.0)、(-723.9±27.0)HU,软组织的平均CT值基本分布在-70~70 HU。Plan2、Plan3、Plan4相比Plan1的剂量差异依次减小,在剂量指标比较中,眼晶状体最大剂量差异最大,分别可达5.0%以上、1.5%~2.0%、1.0%~1.5%,其余剂量指标差异的95%置信区间上限基本不超过2.0%、1.2%、0.8%。在像素点剂量比较中,局部靶区病例中差异>1%的区域主要分布在靠近射野的皮肤处,而全脑靶区病例中主要分布在骨骼与空腔、软组织交界处,以及靠近射野的皮肤处。此外,CT值赋值法在3D-CRT的剂量学差异大于IMRT,在全脑靶区病例大于局部靶区病例。结论不同CT值赋值法对脑转移瘤放疗计划剂量计算的影响显著,对骨骼、空腔和软组织赋予合适CT值,剂量计算偏差可基本控制于1.2%以内,而对各组织器官赋予群体化的CT值,可进一步将偏差控制于0.8%以内,满足临床要求。     

Cone-beam computed tomography-derived adaptive radiotherapy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-derived adaptive radiotherapy. We evaluate planning computed tomography (pCT) and CBCT in 50 patients who had undergone image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) with CBCT. Irradiated sites included head, neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis; there were 10 patients in each group. Treatment plans including 153 beam data were recalculated based on CBCT. To compare between pCT and CBCT, we estimated CT values of normal tissues, body contour, effective depth, and monitor units (MU) calculation. The maximum difference in CT values was observed in lung estimation. The 5 mm or more differences in depth were observed in 2 beams of 2 pelvic cases, but CBCT also demonstrated a shift of abdominal wall due to intestinal motility. There were downward trends for the effective depth and MU based on CBCT, especially in lung cases. However, the differences in prescribed dose due to MU calculation were less than 5% because all patients were treated with a multifield irradiation plan. CBCT provides not only precise daily setup but also accurate anatomical information on body contour. In addition, CBCT may be considered as a useful tool for dose calculation.     

Radiopaque drug-eluting embolisation beads as fiducial markers for stereotactic liver radiotherapy

Objective:To determine the feasibility of using radiopaque (RO) beads as direct tumour surrogates for image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) in patients with liver tumours after transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE).Methods:A novel vandetanib-eluting RO bead was delivered via TACE as part of a first-in-human clinical trial in patients with either hepatocellular carcinoma or liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Following TACE, patients underwent simulated radiotherapy imaging with four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging. RO beads were contoured using automated thresholding, and feasibility of matching between the simulated radiotherapy planning dataset (AVE-IP image from 4D data) and CBCT scans assessed. Additional kV, MV, helical CT and CBCT images of RO beads were obtained using an in-house phantom. Stability of RO bead position was assessed by comparing 4D-CT imaging to CT scans taken 6–20 days following TACE.Results:Eight patients were treated and 4D-CT and CBCT images acquired. RO beads were visible on 4D-CT and CBCT images in all cases and matching successfully performed. Differences in centre of mass of RO beads between CBCT and simulated radiotherapy planning scans (AVE-IP dataset) were 2.0 mm mediolaterally, 1.7 mm anteroposteriorally and 3.5 mm craniocaudally. RO beads in the phantom were visible on all imaging modalities assessed. RO bead position remained stable up to 29 days post TACE.Conclusion:RO beads are visible on IGRT imaging modalities, showing minimal artefact. They can be used for on-set matching with CBCT and remain stable over time.Advances in knowledge:The role of RO beads as fiducial markers for stereotactic liver radiotherapy is feasible and warrants further exploration as a combination therapy approach.     

Bildgestützte Strahlentherapie

CLINICAL ISSUE: The introduction of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) has changed the workflow in radiation oncology more dramatically than any other innovation in the last decades. STANDARD TREATMENT: Imaging for treatment planning before the initiation of the radiotherapy series does not take alterations in patient anatomy and organ movement into account. TREATMENT INNOVATIONS: The principle of IGRT is the temporal and spatial connection of imaging in the treatment position immediately before radiation treatment. DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT: The actual position and the target position are compared using cone-beam computed tomography (CT) or stereotactic ultrasound. PERFORMANCE: The IGRT procedure allows a reduction of the safety margins and dose to normal tissue without an increase in risk of local recurrence. ACHIEVEMENTS: In the future the linear treatment chain in radiation oncology will be developed based on the closed-loop feedback principle. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: The IGRT procedure is increasingly being used especially for high precision radiotherapy, e.g. for prostate or brain tumors.     

Dosimetric study on learning-based cone-beam CT correction in adaptive radiation therapy

IntroductionCone-beam CT (CBCT) image quality is important for its quantitative analysis in adaptive radiation therapy. However, due to severe artifacts, the CBCTs are primarily used for verifying patient setup only so far. We have developed a learning-based image quality improvement method which could provide CBCTs with image quality comparable to planning CTs (pCTs). The accuracy of dose calculations based on these CBCTs is unknown. In this study, we aim to investigate the dosimetric accuracy of our corrected CBCT (CCBCT) in brain stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and pelvic radiotherapy.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively investigated a total of 32 treatment plans from 22 patients, each of whom with both original treatment pCTs and CBCTs acquired during treatment setup. The CCBCT and original CBCT (OCBCT) were registered to the pCT for generating CCBCT-based and OCBCT-based treatment plans. The original pCT-based plans served as ground truth. Clinically-relevant dose volume histogram (DVH) metrics were extracted from the ground truth, OCBCT-based and CCBCT-based plans for comparison. Gamma analysis was also performed to compare the absorbed dose distributions between the pCT-based and OCBCT/CCBCT-based plans of each patient.ResultsCCBCTs demonstrated better image contrast and more accurate HU ranges when compared side-by-side with OCBCTs. For pelvic radiotherapy plans, the mean dose error in DVH metrics for planning target volume (PTV), bladder and rectum was significantly reduced, from 1% to 0.3%, after CBCT correction. The gamma analysis showed the average pass rate increased from 94.5% before correction to 99.0% after correction. For brain SRS treatment plans, both original and corrected CBCT images were accurate enough for dose calculation, though CCBCT featured higher image quality.ConclusionCCBCTs can provide a level of dose accuracy comparable to traditional pCTs for brain and prostate radiotherapy planning and the correction method proposed here can be useful in CBCT-guided adaptive radiotherapy.     

Progress in image-guided radiotherapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors. It has the highest incidence and mortality rate of all cancers worldwide. Late diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is very common in clinical practice, and most patients miss the chance for radical surgery. Thus, radiotherapy plays an indispensable role in the treatment of NSCLC. Radiotherapy technology has evolved from the classic two-dimensional approach to three-dimensional conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy. However, how to ensure delivery of an accurate dose to the tumor while minimizing the irradiation of normal tissues remains a huge challenge for radiation oncologists, especially due to the positioning error between fractions and the autonomous movement of organs. In recent years, image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) has greatly increased the accuracy of tumor irradiation while reducing the irradiation dose delivered to healthy tissues and organs. This paper presents a brief review of the definition of IGRT and the various technologies and applications of IGRT. IGRT can help ensure accurate dosing of the target area and reduce radiation damage to the surrounding normal tissue. IGRT may increase the local control rate of tumors and reduce the incidence of radio-therapeutic complications.     

Prostate positioning using cone-beam computer tomography based on manual soft-tissue registration

Purpose

To check the interobserver agreement between radiation oncologists and therapists (RTT) using an on- and off-line cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT) protocol for setup verification in the radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

Materials and methods

The CBCT data from six prostate cancer patients treated with hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) were independently reviewed off-line by four observers (one radiation oncologist, one junior and two senior RTTs) and benchmarked with on-line CBCT positioning performed by a radiation oncologist immediately prior to treatment. CBCT positioning was based on manual soft-tissue registration. Agreement between observers was evaluated using weighted Cohen’s kappa statistics.

Results

In total, 152 CBCT-based prostate positioning procedures were reviewed by each observer. The mean (± standard deviation) of the differences between off- and on-line CBCT–simCT registration translations along the three directions (antero-posterior, latero-lateral and cranio-caudal) and rotation around the antero-posterior axis were ??0.7 (3.6) mm, 1.9 (2.7) mm, 0.9 (3.6) mm and ??1.8 (5.0) degrees, respectively. Satisfactory interobserver agreement was found, being substantial (weighted kappa >?0.6) in 10 of 16 comparisons and moderate (0.41–0.60) in the remaining six comparisons.

Conclusions

CBCT interpretation performed by RTTs is comparable to that of radiation oncologists. Our study might be helpful in the quality assurance of radiotherapy and the optimization of competencies. Further investigation should include larger sample sizes, a greater number of observers and validated methodology in order to assess interobserver variability and its impact on high-precision prostate cancer IGRT. In the future, it should enable the wider implementation of complex and evolving radiotherapy technologies.     

Practically acquired and modified cone-beam computed tomography images for accurate dose calculation in head and neck cancer

Background

On-line cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) may be used to reconstruct the dose for geometric changes of patients and tumors during radiotherapy course. This study is to establish a practical method to modify the CBCT for accurate dose calculation in head and neck cancer.

Patients and Methods

Fan-beam CT (FBCT) and Elekta??s CBCT were used to acquire images. The CT numbers for different materials on CBCT were mathematically modified to match them with FBCT. Three phantoms were scanned by FBCT and CBCT for image uniformity, spatial resolution, and CT numbers, and to compare the dose distribution from orthogonal beams. A Rando phantom was scanned and planned with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Finally, two nasopharyngeal cancer patients treated with IMRT had their CBCT image sets calculated for dose comparison.

Results

With 360° acquisition of CBCT and high-resolution reconstruction, the uniformity of CT number distribution was improved and the otherwise large variations for background and high-density materials were reduced significantly. The dose difference between FBCT and CBCT was < 2% in phantoms. In the Rando phantom and the patients, the dose?Cvolume histograms were similar. The corresponding isodose curves covering ?? 90% of prescribed dose on FBCT and CBCT were close to each other (within 2 mm). Most dosimetric differences were from the setup errors related to the interval changes in body shape and tumor response.

Conclusion

The specific CBCT acquisition, reconstruction, and CT number modification can generate accurate dose calculation for the potential use in adaptive radiotherapy.     

基于U-Net模型从低能锥形束CT图像实现高能成像的研究

目的基于U-Net网络深度学习的方法, 实现在放疗临床中低能锥形束CT(CBCT)图像转换成高能CBCT图像, 以期提供双能CBCT成像图像基础且降低辐射剂量。方法利用放疗机载CBCT设备采集CIRS电子密度模体和CIRS头部体模在80和140 kV能量下的CBCT图像数据, 数据集按10∶1分为训练集和测试集。利用U-Net网络从低能量(80 kV)CBCT图像预测高能量(140 kV)下CBCT图像。采用平均绝对误差(MAE)、结构相似度指数(SSIM)、信噪比(SNR)和峰值信号噪声比(PSNR)4种度量指标, 定量评价预测高能CBCT图像。结果预测高能图像与真实高能图像之间总体结构差异较小(SSIM:0.993 ±0.003)。预测高能图像噪声较低(SNR:15.33±4.06), 但组织间分辨力有损失。预测高能图像比真实高能图像平均CT值偏低, 在低密度组织中差异较小(<10 HU, P > 0.05), 而在高密度组织中差异大(< 21 HU, t = -7.92, P < 0.05)。结论利用深度学习方法可以从低能CBCT图像获得结构相似度高的高能...     

Bio-IGRT - biological image-guided radiotherapy

Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) represents a novel method to precisely deliver radiation to tumours while sparing surrounding normal tissues. Integration of biological imaging using PET or MRI appears to be a promising concept to improve radiotherapy (Bio-IGRT). For this it is essential that biological imaging provides radiobiologically relevant information. Preclinical and clinical investigations into validation of PET tracers and MR methods in the context of curative radiotherapy and of concepts for biology-based escalation of radiation dose as well as other therapeutic interventions are an important task for further cancer research.