PURPOSE This project proposes using a real tissue phantom for 4D tissue deformation reconstruction (4DTDR) and 4D deformable image registration (DIR) validation, which allows for the complete verification of the motion path rather than limited end-point to end-point of motion. METHODS Three electro-magnetic-tracking (EMT) fiducials were implanted into fresh porcine liver that was subsequently...

An internal target volume (ITV) accounting for respiratory-induced tumor motion is best obtained using 4DCT. However, when 4DCT is not available, inspiratory/expiratory breath-hold (BH insp, BH exp) CT images have been suggested as an alternative. In such cases, an external fiducial on the abdomen can be used as a substitute for tumor motion and CT images are acquired when the marker position m...

The accuracy of four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) imaging depends on temporal characteristics of the acquisition protocol--for example, the temporal spacing of the reconstructed images (also known as cine duration between images) and the gantry rotation speed. These parameters affect the temporal resolution of 4DCT images, and a single default acquisition protocol, as commonly used in...

PURPOSE Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) has been widely used in cancer radiotherapy for accurate target delineation and motion measurement for tumors in the thorax and upper abdomen areas. However, its prolonged scanning duration causes a considerable increase of radiation dose compared to conventional CT, which is a major concern in its clinical application. This work is to develop...

This paper presents a new interactive method for analyzing 4D Computed Tomography (4DCT) datasets for patient care and research. Deformable registration algorithms are commonly used to observe the trajectories of individual voxels from one respiratory phase to another. Our system provides users with the capability to visualize these trajectories while simultaneously rendering anatomical volumes...

PURPOSE To investigate respiration-induced heart motion for left-sided breast irradiation using a four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) technique and to determine novel indications to assess heart motion and identify breast patients who may benefit from a gated treatment. METHODS AND MATERIALS Images of 4DCT acquired during free breathing for 20 left-sided breast cancer patients, who un...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) High-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NBL) requires multimodality treatment, including external beam radiation of the primary tumor site following resection. Radiotherapy planning must take into account motion of the target and adjacent normal anatomy, both of which are poorly understood in the pediatric population, and which may differ significantly from those in adults. METHODS/M...

Background Fiducial markers are used as surrogates for tumor location during radiation therapy treatment. Developments in lung fiducial marker and implantation technology have provided a means to insert endobronchially tracking of tumors. This study quantifies the surrogacy uncertainty (SU) when using implanted surrogate position. Methods We evaluated SU 17 patients treated prospective electrom...

Due to respiratory motion, lung tumor can move up to several centimeters. If respiratory motion is not carefully considered during the radiation treatment planning, the highly conformal dose distribution with steep gradients could miss the target. To address this issue, the common strategy is to add a population-derived safety margin to the gross tumor volume (GTV). However, during a free breat...