Brachytherapy volume visualization

摘要

Conventional localization schemes for brachytherapy seed implants using biplane or stereoscopic projection radio- graphs can suffer form scaling distortions and poor visibility of implanted seeds, resulting in compromised source tracking and dosimetric inaccuracies. This paper proposes an alternative method for improving the visualization and thus, localization, of radiotherapy implants by synthesizing, form as few as two radiographic projections, a 3D image free of divergence artifacts. The result produces more accurate seed localization leading to improved dosimetric accuracy. Two alternative approaches are compared. The first uses orthogonal merging. The second employs the technique of tuned-aperture computed tomography (TACT), whereby 3D reconstruction is performed by shifting and adding of well-sampled projections relative to a fiducial reference system. Phantom results using nonlinear visualization methods demonstrate the applicability of localizing individual seeds for both approaches. Geometric errors are eliminated by a calibration scheme derived from the fiducial pattern that is imaged concurrently with the subject. Both merging and TACT approaches enhance seed localization by improving visualization of the seed distribution over biplanar radiographs. Unlike current methods, both alternatives demonstrate continuos one-to-one source tracking in 3D, although elimination of scaling artifacts requires more than two projections when using the merging method.