2026
Klucznik, Karolina; Ravkilde, Thomas; Skouboe, Simon; Keall, Paul; Happersett, Laura; Pham, Hai; Leong, Brian; Zhang, Pengpeng; Tang, Grace; Poulsen, Per R
First online real-time motion-including prostate and bladder dose reconstruction during prostate radiotherapy Journal Article
In: Radiother. Oncol., vol. 214, no. 111298, pp. 111298, 2026.
@article{Klucznik2026-nw,
title = {First online real-time motion-including prostate and bladder
dose reconstruction during prostate radiotherapy},
author = {Karolina Klucznik and Thomas Ravkilde and Simon Skouboe and Paul Keall and Laura Happersett and Hai Pham and Brian Leong and Pengpeng Zhang and Grace Tang and Per R Poulsen},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Radiother. Oncol.},
volume = {214},
number = {111298},
pages = {111298},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION: Organ motion can distort prostate
radiotherapy doses. This study presents the first real-time
calculation of the motion-induced dose distortions performed
online during prostate radiotherapy. METHODS: Twenty patients
were treated with stereotactic prostate radiotherapy of 35 Gy or
40 Gy in 5 fractions using intrafractional image guidance for
real-time prostate localization and patient repositioning upon
prostate misalignments exceeding 1.5 mm. In-house developed
software performed motion-including prostate and bladder dose
reconstruction during treatment. The reconstructed doses were
retrospectively validated against a clinical treatment planning
system (TPS) where motion was encoded in treatment plans as
multiple 3D isocenter shifts. Hypothetical doses delivered
without intra-treatment repositioning were reconstructed
post-treatment for comparison to illustrate how the dose
reconstruction allows easy assessment of the effectiveness of
the used motion mitigation method. RESULTS: Dose reconstruction
was performed for 91 fractions either online during treatment (n = 41) or retrospectively using recorded motion (n = 50). The
real-time calculated doses (calculated by the in-house software
using a simplified algorithm) agreed with TPS calculations with
mean ($±$std) differences of 0.1 % ($±$0.9 %) for clinical
target volume (CTV) D95% and 0.2 % ($±$0.2 %) for bladder
V36Gy. The mean time per online dose-reconstruction ($±$std)
was 336 $±$ 86 ms, proving the real-time applicability of the
proposed method. The average ($±$std) motion-induced dose
distortions for individual fractions with intrafractional image
guidance were -0.5 % ($±$1.0 %) for CTV D95% and +0.1 %
($±$0.5 %) for bladder V36Gy for individual fractions.
Accumulated across all fractions of each patient, these
deviations decreased to 0.0 % ($±$0.7 %) for the CTV and
+0.1 % ($±$0.2 %) for the bladder. In contrast, without
intratreatment repositioning, deviations would have been -1.3 %
($±$5.0 %) for CTV D95% and +0.5 % ($±$1.5 %) for
bladder V36Gy, with individual fractions exhibiting clinically
unacceptable CTV D95% decreases of up to 42.5 %. CONCLUSION:
This study marks the first clinical realization of real-time
motion-including dose reconstruction for both target and
organ-at-risk structures paving the way for real-time
dose-guided radiotherapy.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
radiotherapy doses. This study presents the first real-time
calculation of the motion-induced dose distortions performed
online during prostate radiotherapy. METHODS: Twenty patients
were treated with stereotactic prostate radiotherapy of 35 Gy or
40 Gy in 5 fractions using intrafractional image guidance for
real-time prostate localization and patient repositioning upon
prostate misalignments exceeding 1.5 mm. In-house developed
software performed motion-including prostate and bladder dose
reconstruction during treatment. The reconstructed doses were
retrospectively validated against a clinical treatment planning
system (TPS) where motion was encoded in treatment plans as
multiple 3D isocenter shifts. Hypothetical doses delivered
without intra-treatment repositioning were reconstructed
post-treatment for comparison to illustrate how the dose
reconstruction allows easy assessment of the effectiveness of
the used motion mitigation method. RESULTS: Dose reconstruction
was performed for 91 fractions either online during treatment (n = 41) or retrospectively using recorded motion (n = 50). The
real-time calculated doses (calculated by the in-house software
using a simplified algorithm) agreed with TPS calculations with
mean ($±$std) differences of 0.1 % ($±$0.9 %) for clinical
target volume (CTV) D95% and 0.2 % ($±$0.2 %) for bladder
V36Gy. The mean time per online dose-reconstruction ($±$std)
was 336 $±$ 86 ms, proving the real-time applicability of the
proposed method. The average ($±$std) motion-induced dose
distortions for individual fractions with intrafractional image
guidance were -0.5 % ($±$1.0 %) for CTV D95% and +0.1 %
($±$0.5 %) for bladder V36Gy for individual fractions.
Accumulated across all fractions of each patient, these
deviations decreased to 0.0 % ($±$0.7 %) for the CTV and
+0.1 % ($±$0.2 %) for the bladder. In contrast, without
intratreatment repositioning, deviations would have been -1.3 %
($±$5.0 %) for CTV D95% and +0.5 % ($±$1.5 %) for
bladder V36Gy, with individual fractions exhibiting clinically
unacceptable CTV D95% decreases of up to 42.5 %. CONCLUSION:
This study marks the first clinical realization of real-time
motion-including dose reconstruction for both target and
organ-at-risk structures paving the way for real-time
dose-guided radiotherapy.
Keall, Paul J.; Booth, Jeremy; Eade, Thomas; Hewson, Emily A; Kishan, Amar U; Jameson, Michael; Kandasamy, Kankean; Kneebone, Andrew; Nguyen, Doan Trang; Poulsen, Per Rugaard; Sengupta, Chandrima; Spratt, Daniel E; Tree, Alison; Zhang, Pengpeng; Martin, Jarad
The KIM real-time prostate cancer IGRT technology journey: From clinical trials to your clinic Journal Article
In: International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, 2026, ISSN: 0360-3016.
BibTeX | Links:
@article{Keall2026,
title = {The KIM real-time prostate cancer IGRT technology journey: From clinical trials to your clinic},
author = {Paul J. Keall and Jeremy Booth and Thomas Eade and Emily A Hewson and Amar U Kishan and Michael Jameson and Kankean Kandasamy and Andrew Kneebone and Doan Trang Nguyen and Per Rugaard Poulsen and Chandrima Sengupta and Daniel E Spratt and Alison Tree and Pengpeng Zhang and Jarad Martin},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijrobp.2026.01.010},
issn = {0360-3016},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-00},
journal = {International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2025
Büttgen, Laura Esther; Sengupta, Chandrima; Sykes, Jonathan; Chrystall, Danielle; Dillon, Owen; Booth, Jeremy Todd; Stewart, Maegan; Hindmarsh, Jonathan; Werner, René; Keall, Paul; Hewson, Emily A
Toward real-time dose-guided radiation therapy: deformable multileaf collimator tracking using motion-model-derived volumetric images in lung and liver cancer patients Journal Article
In: Phys. Med. Biol., vol. 70, no. 24, pp. 245005, 2025.
@article{Buttgen2025-ud,
title = {Toward real-time dose-guided radiation therapy: deformable
multileaf collimator tracking using motion-model-derived
volumetric images in lung and liver cancer patients},
author = {Laura Esther Büttgen and Chandrima Sengupta and Jonathan Sykes and Danielle Chrystall and Owen Dillon and Jeremy Todd Booth and Maegan Stewart and Jonathan Hindmarsh and René Werner and Paul Keall and Emily A Hewson},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-12-01},
journal = {Phys. Med. Biol.},
volume = {70},
number = {24},
pages = {245005},
publisher = {IOP Publishing},
abstract = {Objective. Accurate dose delivery in the presence of anatomical
motion and deformation remains a major challenge in radiation
therapy. Real-time dose-guided radiation therapy addresses this
challenge by integrating volumetric imaging, dose accumulation,
and adaptive treatment in a quasi-continuous manner. Unlike
previous studies limited to rigid motion or phantom data, this
study employs a motion model to generate real-time volumetric
images, enabling deformable dose-guided multileaf collimator
(MLC) tracking in lung and liver cancer patients.Approach.
Deformable dose-guided MLC tracking was simulated for ten
patients (4 lung, 6 liver). The workflow included: (1) training
a patient-specific linear regression-based motion model relating
external respiratory signals (RPMs) to deformation vector fields
using planning 4DCT data, (2) generating volumetric images using
treatment RPM signals, (3) simulating dose-guided MLC tracking
comparing deformable, rigid and no tracking, and (4) evaluating
the motion model accuracy using fiducial markers and kV imaging.
Dosimetric accuracy was assessed using 3D Gamma analysis
(2%/2mm) and normalized root mean squared error by comparing
simulated delivered dose to a motion-compensated baseline.
Motion model error was quantified as the distance between
predicted and ground truth marker positions.Main results.
Deformable tracking significantly outperformed rigid and no
tracking (p<0.001), achieving a mean Gamma passing rate
of95.0$±$6.0%, compared to86.3$±$10.0%and74.8$±$15.2%,
respectively. Lung patients showed a greater benefit in Gamma
passing rate (deformable:98%vs rigid:85%, $±$13%) than
liver patients (93%vs89%,+4%). The dosimetric benefit
correlated with respiratory amplitude, with larger motion
yielding greater improvements. The motion model demonstrated
high accuracy, with a mean error of0.1$±$2.9mm.Significance.
This study demonstrates the feasibility and dosimetric advantage
of deformable dose-guided MLC tracking using
motion-model-derived volumetric imaging in patient data. These
findings represent a critical step toward the clinical
implementation of real-time dose-guided radiation therapy.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
motion and deformation remains a major challenge in radiation
therapy. Real-time dose-guided radiation therapy addresses this
challenge by integrating volumetric imaging, dose accumulation,
and adaptive treatment in a quasi-continuous manner. Unlike
previous studies limited to rigid motion or phantom data, this
study employs a motion model to generate real-time volumetric
images, enabling deformable dose-guided multileaf collimator
(MLC) tracking in lung and liver cancer patients.Approach.
Deformable dose-guided MLC tracking was simulated for ten
patients (4 lung, 6 liver). The workflow included: (1) training
a patient-specific linear regression-based motion model relating
external respiratory signals (RPMs) to deformation vector fields
using planning 4DCT data, (2) generating volumetric images using
treatment RPM signals, (3) simulating dose-guided MLC tracking
comparing deformable, rigid and no tracking, and (4) evaluating
the motion model accuracy using fiducial markers and kV imaging.
Dosimetric accuracy was assessed using 3D Gamma analysis
(2%/2mm) and normalized root mean squared error by comparing
simulated delivered dose to a motion-compensated baseline.
Motion model error was quantified as the distance between
predicted and ground truth marker positions.Main results.
Deformable tracking significantly outperformed rigid and no
tracking (p<0.001), achieving a mean Gamma passing rate
of95.0$±$6.0%, compared to86.3$±$10.0%and74.8$±$15.2%,
respectively. Lung patients showed a greater benefit in Gamma
passing rate (deformable:98%vs rigid:85%, $±$13%) than
liver patients (93%vs89%,+4%). The dosimetric benefit
correlated with respiratory amplitude, with larger motion
yielding greater improvements. The motion model demonstrated
high accuracy, with a mean error of0.1$±$2.9mm.Significance.
This study demonstrates the feasibility and dosimetric advantage
of deformable dose-guided MLC tracking using
motion-model-derived volumetric imaging in patient data. These
findings represent a critical step toward the clinical
implementation of real-time dose-guided radiation therapy.
Trada, Yuvnik; Lee, Mark T.; Jameson, Michael G.; Chlap, Phillip; Keall, Paul; Moses, Daniel; Lin, Peter; Fowler, Allan
Mid-treatment changes in intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity correlate to outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients Journal Article
In: EJNMMI Res, vol. 15, no. 1, 2025, ISSN: 2191-219X.
@article{Trada2025,
title = {Mid-treatment changes in intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity correlate to outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients},
author = {Yuvnik Trada and Mark T. Lee and Michael G. Jameson and Phillip Chlap and Paul Keall and Daniel Moses and Peter Lin and Allan Fowler},
doi = {10.1186/s13550-025-01226-6},
issn = {2191-219X},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-12-00},
journal = {EJNMMI Res},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Abstract
Background
This study evaluated mid-treatment changes in intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity and quantitative FDG-PET/CT imaging parameters and correlated the changes with treatment outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC) patients. 114 patients from two independent cohorts underwent baseline and mid-treatment (week 3) FDG-PET. Standardized uptake value maximum (SUVmax ), standardized uptake value mean (SUVmean ), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), and total lesional glycolysis (TLG) were measured. Intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity was quantified as the area under a cumulative SUV-volume histogram curve (AUC-CSH). Baseline and relative change (%∆) in imaging features were correlated to locoregional recurrence free survival (LRRFS) using multivariate Cox regression analysis. Patients were stratified into three risk groups utilising ∆AUC-CSH and known prognostic features, then compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis.
Results
Median follow up was 39 months. 18% of patients developed locoregional recurrence at 2 years. A decrease in heterogeneity (∆AUC-CSH: 24%) was observed mid-treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in tumour heterogeneity (AUC-CSH) at baseline (p = 0.134) and change at week 3 (p = 0.306) between p16 positive and p16 negative patients. Baseline imaging features did not correlate to LRRFS. However, ∆MTV (aHR 1.04; 95% CI 1.03–1.06; p < 0.001) and ∆AUC-CSH (aHR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94–0.98; p = 0.004) were correlated to LRRFS. Stratification using ∆AUC-CSH and p16 status into three groups showed significant differences in LRR (2 year LRRFS 94%, 79%, 17%; log rank p < 0.001). Stratification using ∆AUC-CSH and ∆MTV into three groups showed significant differences in LRR (2 year LRRFS 93%, 70%, 17%; log rank p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Mid-treatment changes in intra-tumoural FDG-PET/CT heterogeneity correlated with treatment outcomes in OPSCC and may help with response prediction. These findings suggest potential utility in designing future risk adaptive clinical trials.
},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Dillon, Owen; Lau, Benjamin; Vinod, Shalini K.; Keall, Paul J.; Reynolds, Tess; Sonke, Jan-Jakob; O’Brien, Ricky T.
Real-time spatiotemporal optimization during imaging Journal Article
In: Commun Eng, vol. 4, no. 1, 2025, ISSN: 2731-3395.
@article{Dillon2025,
title = {Real-time spatiotemporal optimization during imaging},
author = {Owen Dillon and Benjamin Lau and Shalini K. Vinod and Paul J. Keall and Tess Reynolds and Jan-Jakob Sonke and Ricky T. O’Brien},
doi = {10.1038/s44172-025-00391-9},
issn = {2731-3395},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-12-00},
journal = {Commun Eng},
volume = {4},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Abstract
High quality imaging is required for high quality medical care, especially in precision applications such as radiation therapy. Patient motion during image acquisition reduces image quality and is either accepted or dealt with retrospectively during image reconstruction. Here we formalize a general approach in which data acquisition is treated as a spatiotemporal optimization problem to solve in real time so that the acquired data has a specific structure that can be exploited during reconstruction. We provide results of the first-in-world clinical trial implementation of our spatiotemporal optimization approach, applied to respiratory correlated 4D cone beam computed tomography for lung cancer radiation therapy (NCT04070586, ethics approval 2019/ETH09968). Performing spatiotemporal optimization allowed us to maintain or improve image quality relative to the current clinical standard while reducing scan time by 63% and reducing scan radiation by 85%, improving clinical throughput and reducing the risk of secondary tumors. This result motivates application of the general spatiotemporal optimization approach to other types of patient motion such as cardiac signals and other modalities such as CT and MRI. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hewson, Emily A; Mejnertsen, Lars; Booth, Jeremy T; Keall, Paul J
Adaptive radiation therapy for real-time deformations using dose-optimised multileaf collimator tracking: anin-silicoproof of concept for multiple lung lesions Journal Article
In: Phys. Med. Biol., vol. 70, no. 22, pp. 225006, 2025.
@article{Hewson2025-iw,
title = {Adaptive radiation therapy for real-time deformations using
dose-optimised multileaf collimator tracking: anin-silicoproof
of concept for multiple lung lesions},
author = {Emily A Hewson and Lars Mejnertsen and Jeremy T Booth and Paul J Keall},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-11-01},
journal = {Phys. Med. Biol.},
volume = {70},
number = {22},
pages = {225006},
publisher = {IOP Publishing},
abstract = {Objective.Anatomy continuously deforms during radiation therapy.
Although real-time volumetric imaging approaches are emerging,
there is a lack of adaptive strategies that account for
intrafraction deformations. The purpose of this study was to
develop a multileaf collimator (MLC) tracking method that adapts
to deformations and evaluate the performance for lung cancer
with multiple lesions.Approach.Dose-optimised deformable MLC
tracking was developed using a fast dose calculation to
accumulate dose at each timestep. The accumulated planned doses
were deformed to represent the desired dose distribution for the
deformed anatomy and the MLC leaf positions were optimised to
minimise the difference between the delivered and deformed
planned dose. Dose-optimised deformable MLC tracking was
evaluated using four lung cancer cases generated using the 4D
XCAT digital phantom. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy
treatment plans were created using a planning target volume
(PTV) margin expansion of 5 mm on the gross tumour volumes
(GTV). Treatments were simulated using three patient-measured
motions for each phantom. The doses accumulated using the fast
dose calculation model with MLC tracking were compared to an
internal target volume (ITV)-based approach.Main results.The
volume of the PTVs were reduced by an average of 34% using
dose-optimised deformable MLC tracking compared to the ITV-based
approach. The mean differences and standard deviations from the
planned doses were -0.5% $±$ 0.6% for the GTV D100%and
-1.1% $±$ 0.6% for the PTV D98%when dose-optimised
deformable MLC tracking was used, and -5.2% $±$ 8.8% for the
ITV D100%and -13.8% $±$ 12.9% for the PTV D98%when no
tracking was used.Significance.The study demonstrated a proof of
concept for dose-optimised deformable MLC tracking to reduce
dosimetric errors for deforming anatomy. The proposed method
could enable the safe reduction of treatment margins for
multiple independently moving targets in the lung compared to
the standard of care.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Although real-time volumetric imaging approaches are emerging,
there is a lack of adaptive strategies that account for
intrafraction deformations. The purpose of this study was to
develop a multileaf collimator (MLC) tracking method that adapts
to deformations and evaluate the performance for lung cancer
with multiple lesions.Approach.Dose-optimised deformable MLC
tracking was developed using a fast dose calculation to
accumulate dose at each timestep. The accumulated planned doses
were deformed to represent the desired dose distribution for the
deformed anatomy and the MLC leaf positions were optimised to
minimise the difference between the delivered and deformed
planned dose. Dose-optimised deformable MLC tracking was
evaluated using four lung cancer cases generated using the 4D
XCAT digital phantom. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy
treatment plans were created using a planning target volume
(PTV) margin expansion of 5 mm on the gross tumour volumes
(GTV). Treatments were simulated using three patient-measured
motions for each phantom. The doses accumulated using the fast
dose calculation model with MLC tracking were compared to an
internal target volume (ITV)-based approach.Main results.The
volume of the PTVs were reduced by an average of 34% using
dose-optimised deformable MLC tracking compared to the ITV-based
approach. The mean differences and standard deviations from the
planned doses were -0.5% $±$ 0.6% for the GTV D100%and
-1.1% $±$ 0.6% for the PTV D98%when dose-optimised
deformable MLC tracking was used, and -5.2% $±$ 8.8% for the
ITV D100%and -13.8% $±$ 12.9% for the PTV D98%when no
tracking was used.Significance.The study demonstrated a proof of
concept for dose-optimised deformable MLC tracking to reduce
dosimetric errors for deforming anatomy. The proposed method
could enable the safe reduction of treatment margins for
multiple independently moving targets in the lung compared to
the standard of care.
Chrystall, Danielle; Stewart, Maegan; Jin, Freeman; Sengupta, Chandrima; D’Oliveira, Maria; Kejda, Alannah; Madden, Levi; Nguyen, Doan Trang; Keall, Paul; Booth, Jeremy
Experimental investigation of real-time 3D beam’s eye view image-guided radiotherapy for prostate SBRT Journal Article
In: Med. Phys., vol. 52, no. 11, pp. e70086, 2025.
@article{Chrystall2025-of,
title = {Experimental investigation of real-time 3D beam's eye view
image-guided radiotherapy for prostate SBRT},
author = {Danielle Chrystall and Maegan Stewart and Freeman Jin and Chandrima Sengupta and Maria D'Oliveira and Alannah Kejda and Levi Madden and Doan Trang Nguyen and Paul Keall and Jeremy Booth},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-11-01},
journal = {Med. Phys.},
volume = {52},
number = {11},
pages = {e70086},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Real-time image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) is
critical for accurate dose delivery during stereotactic body
radiotherapy (SBRT). Beam's eye view (BEV) imaging offers the
unique advantage of reporting motion in the most dosimetrically
relevant frame of reference without additional imaging dose.
However, its clinical use is limited by poor contrast-to-noise
ratio and marker occlusion by treatment beam apertures. Deep
learning enables fast identification of indistinct marker
features even in low contrast images, facilitating real-time
BEV-IGRT. To support integration with standard-equipped linear
accelerators, accurate 3D localization is
essential-necessitating the development of a 3D BEV-IGRT system.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop and experimentally evaluate
a novel real-time 3D BEV-IGRT system for potential clinical
implementation during prostate SBRT. METHODS: A real-time 3D
BEV-IGRT system was developed by integrating a deep
learning-based 2D MV marker segmentation method with a 3D IGRT
framework. Marker positions were segmented on MV images using a
convolutional neural network (CNN) and used to predict 3D motion
via a Gaussian maximum likelihood estimation method. A failure
mode and effects analysis (FMEA) was performed by a
multidisciplinary team. Mitigation strategies were implemented
for high-risk failure modes, and risk priority numbers (RPN)
were recalculated. Experimental system evaluation was guided by
failure modes identified through the FMEA. An anthropomorphic
pelvic phantom with three implanted gold markers was mounted on
a 3D motion-programmable platform. System performance was
assessed under static and dynamic conditions, using treatment
plans of increasing complexity, ranging from open fields to
patient-representative volumetric modulated arc therapy plans.
Dynamic performance was evaluated using four patient-derived
prostate motion traces. Localization accuracy (mean error $±$
1 SD) was assessed by comparing system-reported positions to
ground truth derived from known motion trajectories or static
displacements. 5th/95th error percentiles were calculated.
System latency was measured as the time delay between motion
initiation and system-reported displacement. Clinically
acceptable accuracy was defined as within $±$ 2 mm in the
superior-inferior (SI), anterior-posterior (AP) and left-right
(LR) directions, and latency $łeq$ 500 ms. RESULTS: Forty-six
failure modes were identified through the FMEA. High-risk
failure causes included algorithmic limitations, algorithmic
errors, human error, and marker occlusion. Incorporation of
mitigation strategies-including eligibility screening, staff
training, and workflow formalization-resulted in an average RPN
reduction of 43% across the top ten high-risk failure modes. A
risk-informed quality assurance program was designed to support
clinical implementation. Overall 3D BEV-IGRT system accuracy was
0.1 $±$ 0.7 mm (SI), -0.1 $±$ 0.8 mm (AP), and 0.1 $±$ 0.7
mm (LR). Accuracy remained within $±$ 2 mm in all directions
across all individual tests. Overall 5th/95th percentile errors
were [-1.0, 1.3] mm (SI), [-1.2, 0.9] mm (AP), and [-0.9, 1.0]
mm (LR). System latency was 300 $±$ 100 ms. CONCLUSIONS: The
3D BEV-IGRT system was experimentally validated, demonstrating
clinically acceptable localization accuracy and latency,
supporting its feasibility for clinical implementation.
Integrated risk mitigation strategies effectively reduced
workflow risk and promoted understanding of system
vulnerabilities. Deployment is planned for a prostate SBRT
clinical trial.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
critical for accurate dose delivery during stereotactic body
radiotherapy (SBRT). Beam’s eye view (BEV) imaging offers the
unique advantage of reporting motion in the most dosimetrically
relevant frame of reference without additional imaging dose.
However, its clinical use is limited by poor contrast-to-noise
ratio and marker occlusion by treatment beam apertures. Deep
learning enables fast identification of indistinct marker
features even in low contrast images, facilitating real-time
BEV-IGRT. To support integration with standard-equipped linear
accelerators, accurate 3D localization is
essential-necessitating the development of a 3D BEV-IGRT system.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop and experimentally evaluate
a novel real-time 3D BEV-IGRT system for potential clinical
implementation during prostate SBRT. METHODS: A real-time 3D
BEV-IGRT system was developed by integrating a deep
learning-based 2D MV marker segmentation method with a 3D IGRT
framework. Marker positions were segmented on MV images using a
convolutional neural network (CNN) and used to predict 3D motion
via a Gaussian maximum likelihood estimation method. A failure
mode and effects analysis (FMEA) was performed by a
multidisciplinary team. Mitigation strategies were implemented
for high-risk failure modes, and risk priority numbers (RPN)
were recalculated. Experimental system evaluation was guided by
failure modes identified through the FMEA. An anthropomorphic
pelvic phantom with three implanted gold markers was mounted on
a 3D motion-programmable platform. System performance was
assessed under static and dynamic conditions, using treatment
plans of increasing complexity, ranging from open fields to
patient-representative volumetric modulated arc therapy plans.
Dynamic performance was evaluated using four patient-derived
prostate motion traces. Localization accuracy (mean error $±$
1 SD) was assessed by comparing system-reported positions to
ground truth derived from known motion trajectories or static
displacements. 5th/95th error percentiles were calculated.
System latency was measured as the time delay between motion
initiation and system-reported displacement. Clinically
acceptable accuracy was defined as within $±$ 2 mm in the
superior-inferior (SI), anterior-posterior (AP) and left-right
(LR) directions, and latency $łeq$ 500 ms. RESULTS: Forty-six
failure modes were identified through the FMEA. High-risk
failure causes included algorithmic limitations, algorithmic
errors, human error, and marker occlusion. Incorporation of
mitigation strategies-including eligibility screening, staff
training, and workflow formalization-resulted in an average RPN
reduction of 43% across the top ten high-risk failure modes. A
risk-informed quality assurance program was designed to support
clinical implementation. Overall 3D BEV-IGRT system accuracy was
0.1 $±$ 0.7 mm (SI), -0.1 $±$ 0.8 mm (AP), and 0.1 $±$ 0.7
mm (LR). Accuracy remained within $±$ 2 mm in all directions
across all individual tests. Overall 5th/95th percentile errors
were [-1.0, 1.3] mm (SI), [-1.2, 0.9] mm (AP), and [-0.9, 1.0]
mm (LR). System latency was 300 $±$ 100 ms. CONCLUSIONS: The
3D BEV-IGRT system was experimentally validated, demonstrating
clinically acceptable localization accuracy and latency,
supporting its feasibility for clinical implementation.
Integrated risk mitigation strategies effectively reduced
workflow risk and promoted understanding of system
vulnerabilities. Deployment is planned for a prostate SBRT
clinical trial.
Hindmarsh, Jonathan; Dieterich, Sonja; Booth, Jeremy; Keall, Paul
Systematic review of prospective hazard analysis in radiation therapy Journal Article
In: Med. Phys., vol. 52, no. 9, pp. e18110, 2025.
@article{Hindmarsh2025-ip,
title = {Systematic review of prospective hazard analysis in radiation
therapy},
author = {Jonathan Hindmarsh and Sonja Dieterich and Jeremy Booth and Paul Keall},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-09-01},
journal = {Med. Phys.},
volume = {52},
number = {9},
pages = {e18110},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Prospective hazard analysis (PHA) was introduced
to the wider medical physics community by the initiation of
American association of physicists in medicine task group 100 in
2003. Since then, there has been increasing interest in the
applicability of PHA to radiotherapy for the purpose of keeping
patients safe and assessing the risks within the whole practice
of radiotherapy. The purpose of this research was to review the
PHA literature focusing on which techniques and technologies
have been assessed, how they have been assessed, and what can be
learnt. METHODS: The search for English language, peer-reviewed,
full-text articles was conducted across five databases and the
citations of three seminal papers using a common search
strategy. The collation, filtration, and analysis of articles
was conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items
for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement
reporting standard utilizing the following PICOS approach:
Population: x-ray external beam radiation therapy, Intervention:
prospective hazard analysis, Comparison: none, Outcome: patient
safety, Study characteristics: details of applied technique.
RESULTS: 689 unique studies were identified. 62 were determined
to be eligible for inclusion. PHA has been applied to C-arm
treatment systems (17), stereotactic radiosurgery (8),
TomoTherapy (6), stereotactic body radiotherapy (5), Ethos (5),
Halcyon (3), MRIdian (3), review activities (3), commissioning
(2), unity (1), volumetric modulated arc therapy (1), surface
guidance (1), CyberKnife (1), RefleXion (1) and other novel
software and hardware systems (6). Disciplines involved in the
studies were physicists (92%), physicians (75%), radiation
therapists or dosimetrists (71%), external experts (38%), and
facilitators (33%). Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
was used in 75% of studies, 10% used FMEA derived methods,
10% used system theoretic process analysis, and 5% used other
methods. From the FMEA studies, 579 high-risk failure modes were
extracted covering all aspects of the radiotherapy process, 50%
applied to patient treatment delivery sessions and 25% applied
to contouring and treatment planning. The mitigation strategies
recommended by studies tended to add to the departmental
workload. CONCLUSIONS: 62 studies were identified that used PHA
in radiotherapy, within the included studies: patient journey
was the most analyzed process, of the disciplines physicists
were involved in the most studies, FMEA the most common
technique, and the delivery of patient treatment was the
greatest source of high-risk failure modes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
to the wider medical physics community by the initiation of
American association of physicists in medicine task group 100 in
2003. Since then, there has been increasing interest in the
applicability of PHA to radiotherapy for the purpose of keeping
patients safe and assessing the risks within the whole practice
of radiotherapy. The purpose of this research was to review the
PHA literature focusing on which techniques and technologies
have been assessed, how they have been assessed, and what can be
learnt. METHODS: The search for English language, peer-reviewed,
full-text articles was conducted across five databases and the
citations of three seminal papers using a common search
strategy. The collation, filtration, and analysis of articles
was conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items
for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement
reporting standard utilizing the following PICOS approach:
Population: x-ray external beam radiation therapy, Intervention:
prospective hazard analysis, Comparison: none, Outcome: patient
safety, Study characteristics: details of applied technique.
RESULTS: 689 unique studies were identified. 62 were determined
to be eligible for inclusion. PHA has been applied to C-arm
treatment systems (17), stereotactic radiosurgery (8),
TomoTherapy (6), stereotactic body radiotherapy (5), Ethos (5),
Halcyon (3), MRIdian (3), review activities (3), commissioning
(2), unity (1), volumetric modulated arc therapy (1), surface
guidance (1), CyberKnife (1), RefleXion (1) and other novel
software and hardware systems (6). Disciplines involved in the
studies were physicists (92%), physicians (75%), radiation
therapists or dosimetrists (71%), external experts (38%), and
facilitators (33%). Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
was used in 75% of studies, 10% used FMEA derived methods,
10% used system theoretic process analysis, and 5% used other
methods. From the FMEA studies, 579 high-risk failure modes were
extracted covering all aspects of the radiotherapy process, 50%
applied to patient treatment delivery sessions and 25% applied
to contouring and treatment planning. The mitigation strategies
recommended by studies tended to add to the departmental
workload. CONCLUSIONS: 62 studies were identified that used PHA
in radiotherapy, within the included studies: patient journey
was the most analyzed process, of the disciplines physicists
were involved in the most studies, FMEA the most common
technique, and the delivery of patient treatment was the
greatest source of high-risk failure modes.
Cheng, Chen; Gardner, Mark; Dillon, Owen; Bouchta, Youssef Ben; Sundaresan, Purnima; Keall, Paul
Volumetric imaging during head and neck radiation therapy using a Kalman filter tracking approach Journal Article
In: Phys. Med. Biol., vol. 70, no. 17, pp. 175006, 2025.
@article{Cheng2025-rt,
title = {Volumetric imaging during head and neck radiation therapy using
a Kalman filter tracking approach},
author = {Chen Cheng and Mark Gardner and Owen Dillon and Youssef Ben Bouchta and Purnima Sundaresan and Paul Keall},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-08-01},
journal = {Phys. Med. Biol.},
volume = {70},
number = {17},
pages = {175006},
publisher = {IOP Publishing},
abstract = {Objective.Head and neck (H&N) volumetric imaging using a
standard linear accelerator during treatment delivery could
enable motion management strategies to improve geometric
accuracy and avoid critical organs at risk (OARs). We developed
a Kalman filter (KF) tracking approach to image 3D H&N anatomy
in real-time using 2D x-ray images.Approach.Our method produces
a 3D image corresponding to each 2D projection at the time the
projection is acquired. A KF incorporates 3D-to-2D projection
geometry to weight the prior 3D deformable vector field (DVF)
and 2D DVF measurement generated by registering each 2D x-ray
image to a 2D image generated using the planning computed
tomography (CT) image. We performed a simulation study using the
planning CT image and 5 minute surface motion traces for 12 H&N
cancer patients. 2D intra-treatment images served as input to
obtain the 3D DVF and resultant 3D images. We evaluated the KF
tracking performance on the target and critical structures using
centroid error, Hausdorff distance and Dice coefficient metrics.
The results were compared to those from the current standard of
care, no tracking.Results.Using KF tracking, we obtained a mean
tumour centroid error of -0.2 $±$ 0.6 mm, 0.3 $±$ 0.8 mm,
and 0.1 $±$ 0.4 mm in the left-right, anterior-posterior and
superior-inferior axes respectively, compared to 0.9 $±$ 1.0
mm, -0.8 $±$ 1.1 mm, and -0.1 $±$ 1.2 mm with no tracking.
The 95th percentile Hausdorff distance for the tumour contour
was 1.2 $±$ 0.6 mm with KF tracking and 2.0 $±$ 1.2 mm
without tracking. The Dice coefficients were 0.91 $±$ 0.08,
0.93 $±$ 0.04, 0.93 $±$ 0.05, 0.79 $±$ 0.18, and 0.89
$±$ 0.06 for the tumour, brainstem, left parotid gland, optic
chiasm, and spinal cord respectively with KF tracking and 0.78
$±$ 0.17, 0.84 $±$ 0.06, 0.83 $±$ 0.08, 0.39 $±$ 0.14,
and 0.70 $±$ 0.13 respectively with no
tracking.Significance.Volumetric imaging with a standard linear
accelerator was investigated using KF tracking with H&N patient
data. The findings demonstrate accurate tracking of both the
tumour and OARs, indicating potential applicability for the
proposed method in a clinical translation setting.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
standard linear accelerator during treatment delivery could
enable motion management strategies to improve geometric
accuracy and avoid critical organs at risk (OARs). We developed
a Kalman filter (KF) tracking approach to image 3D H&N anatomy
in real-time using 2D x-ray images.Approach.Our method produces
a 3D image corresponding to each 2D projection at the time the
projection is acquired. A KF incorporates 3D-to-2D projection
geometry to weight the prior 3D deformable vector field (DVF)
and 2D DVF measurement generated by registering each 2D x-ray
image to a 2D image generated using the planning computed
tomography (CT) image. We performed a simulation study using the
planning CT image and 5 minute surface motion traces for 12 H&N
cancer patients. 2D intra-treatment images served as input to
obtain the 3D DVF and resultant 3D images. We evaluated the KF
tracking performance on the target and critical structures using
centroid error, Hausdorff distance and Dice coefficient metrics.
The results were compared to those from the current standard of
care, no tracking.Results.Using KF tracking, we obtained a mean
tumour centroid error of -0.2 $±$ 0.6 mm, 0.3 $±$ 0.8 mm,
and 0.1 $±$ 0.4 mm in the left-right, anterior-posterior and
superior-inferior axes respectively, compared to 0.9 $±$ 1.0
mm, -0.8 $±$ 1.1 mm, and -0.1 $±$ 1.2 mm with no tracking.
The 95th percentile Hausdorff distance for the tumour contour
was 1.2 $±$ 0.6 mm with KF tracking and 2.0 $±$ 1.2 mm
without tracking. The Dice coefficients were 0.91 $±$ 0.08,
0.93 $±$ 0.04, 0.93 $±$ 0.05, 0.79 $±$ 0.18, and 0.89
$±$ 0.06 for the tumour, brainstem, left parotid gland, optic
chiasm, and spinal cord respectively with KF tracking and 0.78
$±$ 0.17, 0.84 $±$ 0.06, 0.83 $±$ 0.08, 0.39 $±$ 0.14,
and 0.70 $±$ 0.13 respectively with no
tracking.Significance.Volumetric imaging with a standard linear
accelerator was investigated using KF tracking with H&N patient
data. The findings demonstrate accurate tracking of both the
tumour and OARs, indicating potential applicability for the
proposed method in a clinical translation setting.
Wang, Yiling; Lombardo, Elia; Thummerer, Adrian; Blöcker, Tom; Fan, Yu; Zhao, Yue; Papadopoulou, Christianna Iris; Hurkmans, Coen; Tijssen, Rob H N; Görts, Pia A W; Tetar, Shyama U; Cusumano, Davide; Intven, Martijn Pw; Borman, Pim; Riboldi, Marco; Dudáš, Denis; Byrne, Hilary; Placidi, Lorenzo; Fusella, Marco; Jameson, Michael; Palacios, Miguel; Cobussen, Paul; Finazzi, Tobias; Haasbeek, Cornelis J A; Keall, Paul; Kurz, Christopher; Landry, Guillaume; Maspero, Matteo
TrackRAD2025 challenge dataset: real-time tumor tracking for MRI-guided radiotherapy Journal Article
In: Med. Phys., vol. 52, no. 7, pp. e17964, 2025.
@article{Wang2025-fs,
title = {TrackRAD2025 challenge dataset: real-time tumor tracking for
MRI-guided radiotherapy},
author = {Yiling Wang and Elia Lombardo and Adrian Thummerer and Tom Blöcker and Yu Fan and Yue Zhao and Christianna Iris Papadopoulou and Coen Hurkmans and Rob H N Tijssen and Pia A W Görts and Shyama U Tetar and Davide Cusumano and Martijn Pw Intven and Pim Borman and Marco Riboldi and Denis Dudáš and Hilary Byrne and Lorenzo Placidi and Marco Fusella and Michael Jameson and Miguel Palacios and Paul Cobussen and Tobias Finazzi and Cornelis J A Haasbeek and Paul Keall and Christopher Kurz and Guillaume Landry and Matteo Maspero},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-01},
journal = {Med. Phys.},
volume = {52},
number = {7},
pages = {e17964},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {PURPOSE: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize
anatomical motion is becoming increasingly important when
treating cancer patients with radiotherapy. Hybrid MRI-linear
accelerator (MRI-linac) systems allow real-time motion
management during irradiation. This paper presents a
multi-institutional real-time MRI time series dataset from
different MRI-linac vendors. The dataset is designed to support
developing and evaluating real-time tumor localization
(tracking) algorithms for MRI-guided radiotherapy within the
TrackRAD2025 challenge (
https://trackrad2025.grand-challenge.org/). ACQUISITION AND
VALIDATION METHODS: The dataset consists of sagittal 2D cine
MRIs (20-20543 frames per scan) in 585 patients from six centers
(3 Dutch, 1 German, 1 Australian, and 1 Chinese). Tumors in the
thorax, abdomen, and pelvis acquired on two commercially
available MRI-linacs (0.35 T and 1.5 T) were included. For 108
cases, irradiation targets or tracking surrogates were manually
segmented on each temporal frame. The dataset was randomly split
into a public training set of 527 cases (477 unlabeled and 50
labeled) and a private testing set of 58 cases (all labeled).
DATA FORMAT AND USAGE NOTES: The data is publicly available
under the TrackRAD2025 collection:
https://doi.org/10.57967/hf/4539. Both the images and
segmentations for each patient are available in metadata format.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS: This novel clinical dataset will enable
the development and evaluation of real-time tumor localization
algorithms for MRI-guided radiotherapy. By enabling more
accurate motion management and adaptive treatment strategies,
this dataset has the potential to advance the field of
radiotherapy significantly.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
anatomical motion is becoming increasingly important when
treating cancer patients with radiotherapy. Hybrid MRI-linear
accelerator (MRI-linac) systems allow real-time motion
management during irradiation. This paper presents a
multi-institutional real-time MRI time series dataset from
different MRI-linac vendors. The dataset is designed to support
developing and evaluating real-time tumor localization
(tracking) algorithms for MRI-guided radiotherapy within the
TrackRAD2025 challenge (
https://trackrad2025.grand-challenge.org/). ACQUISITION AND
VALIDATION METHODS: The dataset consists of sagittal 2D cine
MRIs (20-20543 frames per scan) in 585 patients from six centers
(3 Dutch, 1 German, 1 Australian, and 1 Chinese). Tumors in the
thorax, abdomen, and pelvis acquired on two commercially
available MRI-linacs (0.35 T and 1.5 T) were included. For 108
cases, irradiation targets or tracking surrogates were manually
segmented on each temporal frame. The dataset was randomly split
into a public training set of 527 cases (477 unlabeled and 50
labeled) and a private testing set of 58 cases (all labeled).
DATA FORMAT AND USAGE NOTES: The data is publicly available
under the TrackRAD2025 collection:
https://doi.org/10.57967/hf/4539. Both the images and
segmentations for each patient are available in metadata format.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS: This novel clinical dataset will enable
the development and evaluation of real-time tumor localization
algorithms for MRI-guided radiotherapy. By enabling more
accurate motion management and adaptive treatment strategies,
this dataset has the potential to advance the field of
radiotherapy significantly.
Klucznik, Karolina A; Ravkilde, Thomas; Skouboe, Simon; Møller, Ditte S; Hokland, Steffen; Keall, Paul; Buus, Simon; Bentzen, Lise; Poulsen, Per R
Cone-beam CT-based estimations of prostate motion and dose distortion during radiotherapy Journal Article
In: Phys. Imaging Radiat. Oncol., vol. 35, no. 100798, pp. 100798, 2025.
@article{Klucznik2025-cz,
title = {Cone-beam CT-based estimations of prostate motion and dose
distortion during radiotherapy},
author = {Karolina A Klucznik and Thomas Ravkilde and Simon Skouboe and Ditte S Møller and Steffen Hokland and Paul Keall and Simon Buus and Lise Bentzen and Per R Poulsen},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-01},
journal = {Phys. Imaging Radiat. Oncol.},
volume = {35},
number = {100798},
pages = {100798},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {Background and purpose: Intra-fractional prostate translational
and rotational (6DoF) motion can cause dose distortions. As
intra-fractional motion monitoring is often unavailable, this
study compares three methods to use pre- and post-treatment cone
beam CTs (CBCT) to estimate prostate positioning errors during
treatment and their dosimetric impact. Material and Methods:
Eighteen patients received prostate radiotherapy with
pre-treatment CBCT setup. For 7-10 fractions per patient
(total:174), triggered kV-images were acquired every 3 s during
beam-on and a CBCT was acquired post-treatment. The 6DoF
prostate position error during treatment was determined from the
kV-images (ground truth) and estimated from the CBCTs assuming a
static position as in the pre-CBCT(Scenario1), a linear drift
between pre- and post-CBCT position(Scenario2) or a static
position as in the post-CBCT(Scenario3). The positioning errors
and prostate dose from each scenario were compared with the
ground truth. Results: Scenario1 was inferior to the others with
prostate position root-mean-square errors of 1.1 mm(LR), 1.7
mm(AP) and 1.8 mm(CC). Scenario2 and 3 were similarly accurate
with root-mean-square errors of 0.5 mm(LR), 0.9 mm(AP) and 0.8
mm(CC) (Scenario2) and 0.6 mm(LR), 1.1 mm(AP) and 0.9 mm(CC)
(Scenario3). The prostate position errors reduced the CTV
D99.5% by more than 2/3 % at 24/15 % of the fractions,
respectively. The sensitivity in detecting these dose deficits
was low for Scenario1 (9-16 %) and considerably higher for
Scenario2 (68-76 %) and Scenario3 (86-91 %). All scenarios
showed high specificity (93-99 %). Conclusion: Using the
post-CBCT prostate position, acquired right after treatment,
performed best in detecting intra-fractional prostate position
errors and CTV dose deficits. It offers a scalable and
conservative estimate of motion-induced dose distortions.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
and rotational (6DoF) motion can cause dose distortions. As
intra-fractional motion monitoring is often unavailable, this
study compares three methods to use pre- and post-treatment cone
beam CTs (CBCT) to estimate prostate positioning errors during
treatment and their dosimetric impact. Material and Methods:
Eighteen patients received prostate radiotherapy with
pre-treatment CBCT setup. For 7-10 fractions per patient
(total:174), triggered kV-images were acquired every 3 s during
beam-on and a CBCT was acquired post-treatment. The 6DoF
prostate position error during treatment was determined from the
kV-images (ground truth) and estimated from the CBCTs assuming a
static position as in the pre-CBCT(Scenario1), a linear drift
between pre- and post-CBCT position(Scenario2) or a static
position as in the post-CBCT(Scenario3). The positioning errors
and prostate dose from each scenario were compared with the
ground truth. Results: Scenario1 was inferior to the others with
prostate position root-mean-square errors of 1.1 mm(LR), 1.7
mm(AP) and 1.8 mm(CC). Scenario2 and 3 were similarly accurate
with root-mean-square errors of 0.5 mm(LR), 0.9 mm(AP) and 0.8
mm(CC) (Scenario2) and 0.6 mm(LR), 1.1 mm(AP) and 0.9 mm(CC)
(Scenario3). The prostate position errors reduced the CTV
D99.5% by more than 2/3 % at 24/15 % of the fractions,
respectively. The sensitivity in detecting these dose deficits
was low for Scenario1 (9-16 %) and considerably higher for
Scenario2 (68-76 %) and Scenario3 (86-91 %). All scenarios
showed high specificity (93-99 %). Conclusion: Using the
post-CBCT prostate position, acquired right after treatment,
performed best in detecting intra-fractional prostate position
errors and CTV dose deficits. It offers a scalable and
conservative estimate of motion-induced dose distortions.
Keall, Paul J; Naqa, Issam El; Fast, Martin F; Hewson, Emily A; Hindley, Nicholas; Poulsen, Per; Sengupta, Chandrima; Tyagi, Neelam; Waddington, David E J
Real-time dose-guided radiation therapy Journal Article
In: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys., vol. 122, no. 4, pp. 787–801, 2025.
@article{Keall2025-dm,
title = {Real-time dose-guided radiation therapy},
author = {Paul J Keall and Issam El Naqa and Martin F Fast and Emily A Hewson and Nicholas Hindley and Per Poulsen and Chandrima Sengupta and Neelam Tyagi and David E J Waddington},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-01},
journal = {Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys.},
volume = {122},
number = {4},
pages = {787–801},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {Dramatic strides have been made in real-time adaptive radiation
therapy, where treating single tumors as dynamic but rigid
bodies has demonstrated a halving of toxicities for prostate
cancer. However, the human body is much more complex than a
rigid body. This review explores the ongoing development and
future potential of dose-guided radiation therapy, where the
three core process steps of volumetric imaging of the patient,
dose accumulation, and dose-guided treatment adaptation occur
quasi-continuously during treatment, fully accounting for the
complexity of the dynamic human body. The clinical evidence
supporting real-time adaptive radiation therapy was reviewed.
The foundational studies, status, and potential of real-time
volumetric imaging using both x-ray and magnetic resonance
imaging technology were described. The development of real-time
dose accumulation to the dynamic patient was evaluated, and a
method to measure real-time dose delivery was assessed. The
growth of real-time treatment adaptation was examined.
Literature demonstrates continued improvements in patient
outcomes because the treatment becomes more conformal to the
dynamic patient. Real-time volumetric imaging using both x-ray
and magnetic resonance imaging technology is poised for broader
implementation. Real-time dose accumulation has demonstrated
clinical feasibility, with approximations made to achieve
real-time operation. Real-time treatment adaptation to deforming
targets and multiple targets has been experimentally
demonstrated. Tying together the inputs of the real-time
volumetric anatomy and dose accumulation is real-time treatment
adaptation that uses the available degrees of freedom to
optimize the dose delivered to the patient, maximizing the
treatment intent. Opportunities exist for artificial
intelligence to accelerate the application of dose-guided
radiation therapy to broader patient use. In summary, the
emerging field of real-time dose-guided radiation therapy has
the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes. The
advances are primarily software-driven and therefore could be
widely available and cost-effective upgrades to improve imaging
and targeting cancer.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
therapy, where treating single tumors as dynamic but rigid
bodies has demonstrated a halving of toxicities for prostate
cancer. However, the human body is much more complex than a
rigid body. This review explores the ongoing development and
future potential of dose-guided radiation therapy, where the
three core process steps of volumetric imaging of the patient,
dose accumulation, and dose-guided treatment adaptation occur
quasi-continuously during treatment, fully accounting for the
complexity of the dynamic human body. The clinical evidence
supporting real-time adaptive radiation therapy was reviewed.
The foundational studies, status, and potential of real-time
volumetric imaging using both x-ray and magnetic resonance
imaging technology were described. The development of real-time
dose accumulation to the dynamic patient was evaluated, and a
method to measure real-time dose delivery was assessed. The
growth of real-time treatment adaptation was examined.
Literature demonstrates continued improvements in patient
outcomes because the treatment becomes more conformal to the
dynamic patient. Real-time volumetric imaging using both x-ray
and magnetic resonance imaging technology is poised for broader
implementation. Real-time dose accumulation has demonstrated
clinical feasibility, with approximations made to achieve
real-time operation. Real-time treatment adaptation to deforming
targets and multiple targets has been experimentally
demonstrated. Tying together the inputs of the real-time
volumetric anatomy and dose accumulation is real-time treatment
adaptation that uses the available degrees of freedom to
optimize the dose delivered to the patient, maximizing the
treatment intent. Opportunities exist for artificial
intelligence to accelerate the application of dose-guided
radiation therapy to broader patient use. In summary, the
emerging field of real-time dose-guided radiation therapy has
the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes. The
advances are primarily software-driven and therefore could be
widely available and cost-effective upgrades to improve imaging
and targeting cancer.
Hindley, Nicholas; Keall, Paul J
An open-source deep learning framework for respiratory motion monitoring and volumetric imaging during radiation therapy Journal Article
In: Med. Phys., vol. 52, no. 7, pp. e18015, 2025.
@article{Hindley2025-xn,
title = {An open-source deep learning framework for respiratory motion
monitoring and volumetric imaging during radiation therapy},
author = {Nicholas Hindley and Paul J Keall},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-01},
journal = {Med. Phys.},
volume = {52},
number = {7},
pages = {e18015},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Real-time image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) was
first clinically implemented more than 25 years ago but is yet
to find widespread adoption. Existing approaches to real-time
IGRT require dedicated or specialized equipment that is not
available in most treatment centers and most techniques focus
exclusively on targets without tracking the surrounding
organs-at-risk (OARs). PURPOSE: To address the need for
inexpensive real-time IGRT, we developed Voxelmap, a deep
learning framework that achieves 3D respiratory motion
estimation and volumetric imaging using the data and resources
already available in standard clinical settings. This framework
can also be adapted to other imaging modalities such as
MRI-Linacs. In contrast with existing approaches, which
constrain the solution space with linear priors, Voxelmap
encourages diffeomorphic mappings that are topology-preserving
and invertible. METHODS: Deformable image registration and
forward-projection or slice extraction were used to generate
patient-specific training datasets of 3D deformation vector
fields (DVFs) and 2D images (or k-space data) from pretreatment
4D-CT or 4D-MRI scans. The XCAT and CoMBAT digital phantoms and
SPARE Grand Challenge Dataset provided synthetic and patient
data, respectively. Five network architectures were used to
predict 3D DVFs from 2D imaging data. Networks A-C were trained
on x-ray images, Network D was trained on MR images and Network
E was trained on k-space data. Using Voxelmap, network-generated
3D DVFs were used to warp both structures contoured on the
peak-exhale pretreatment image and the image itself to enable
simultaneous target and OAR tracking and volumetric imaging.
Using the standard-of-care approach, contours were expanded to
internal target volumes. RESULTS: Validating on digital phantom
data for x-ray guided treatments of cardiac arrhythmia, mean
Dice similarity between predicted and ground-truth target and
OAR contours for Networks A-C ranged from 0.81 $±$ 0.05 to
0.82 $±$ 0.05 and 0.78 $±$ 0.04 to 0.81 $±$ 0.04,
respectively, while target centroid error ranged from 2.0 $±$
0.5 to 2.3 $±$ 0.9 mm. For MRI-based digital phantom data,
mean Dice similarity for target and OAR contours was 0.91 $±$
0.06 and 0.90 $±$ 0.02 for both Networks D and E, while target
centroid error ranged from 1.7 $±$ 0.8 to 1.8 $±$ 0.8 mm.
For x-ray-based lung cancer patient data, mean Dice similarity
for target and OAR contours for Networks A-C ranged from 0.86
$±$ 0.05 to 0.89 $±$ 0.04 and 0.94 $±$ 0.01 to 0.97 $±$
0.01, respectively. However, in terms of target centroid error,
only Network A outperformed an ITV-based approach at 1.8 $±$
0.7 mm while Networks B and C exhibited large errors of 2.7
$±$ 1.2 to 3.5 $±$ 1.4 mm, respectively. Target volumes
dynamically shifted using Voxelmap were 31 % smaller than the
standard-of-care. CONCLUSIONS: Voxelmap provides a generalized,
open-source tool for intrafraction respiratory motion monitoring
and volumetric imaging. Comparing tracking errors across
synthetic and patient data revealed that certain network
architectures are more robust to the scatter and noise profiles
encountered in typical clinical settings. These learnings will
inform future developments in real-time motion tracking. Our
code is available at
https://github.com/Image-X-Institute/Voxelmap .},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
first clinically implemented more than 25 years ago but is yet
to find widespread adoption. Existing approaches to real-time
IGRT require dedicated or specialized equipment that is not
available in most treatment centers and most techniques focus
exclusively on targets without tracking the surrounding
organs-at-risk (OARs). PURPOSE: To address the need for
inexpensive real-time IGRT, we developed Voxelmap, a deep
learning framework that achieves 3D respiratory motion
estimation and volumetric imaging using the data and resources
already available in standard clinical settings. This framework
can also be adapted to other imaging modalities such as
MRI-Linacs. In contrast with existing approaches, which
constrain the solution space with linear priors, Voxelmap
encourages diffeomorphic mappings that are topology-preserving
and invertible. METHODS: Deformable image registration and
forward-projection or slice extraction were used to generate
patient-specific training datasets of 3D deformation vector
fields (DVFs) and 2D images (or k-space data) from pretreatment
4D-CT or 4D-MRI scans. The XCAT and CoMBAT digital phantoms and
SPARE Grand Challenge Dataset provided synthetic and patient
data, respectively. Five network architectures were used to
predict 3D DVFs from 2D imaging data. Networks A-C were trained
on x-ray images, Network D was trained on MR images and Network
E was trained on k-space data. Using Voxelmap, network-generated
3D DVFs were used to warp both structures contoured on the
peak-exhale pretreatment image and the image itself to enable
simultaneous target and OAR tracking and volumetric imaging.
Using the standard-of-care approach, contours were expanded to
internal target volumes. RESULTS: Validating on digital phantom
data for x-ray guided treatments of cardiac arrhythmia, mean
Dice similarity between predicted and ground-truth target and
OAR contours for Networks A-C ranged from 0.81 $±$ 0.05 to
0.82 $±$ 0.05 and 0.78 $±$ 0.04 to 0.81 $±$ 0.04,
respectively, while target centroid error ranged from 2.0 $±$
0.5 to 2.3 $±$ 0.9 mm. For MRI-based digital phantom data,
mean Dice similarity for target and OAR contours was 0.91 $±$
0.06 and 0.90 $±$ 0.02 for both Networks D and E, while target
centroid error ranged from 1.7 $±$ 0.8 to 1.8 $±$ 0.8 mm.
For x-ray-based lung cancer patient data, mean Dice similarity
for target and OAR contours for Networks A-C ranged from 0.86
$±$ 0.05 to 0.89 $±$ 0.04 and 0.94 $±$ 0.01 to 0.97 $±$
0.01, respectively. However, in terms of target centroid error,
only Network A outperformed an ITV-based approach at 1.8 $±$
0.7 mm while Networks B and C exhibited large errors of 2.7
$±$ 1.2 to 3.5 $±$ 1.4 mm, respectively. Target volumes
dynamically shifted using Voxelmap were 31 % smaller than the
standard-of-care. CONCLUSIONS: Voxelmap provides a generalized,
open-source tool for intrafraction respiratory motion monitoring
and volumetric imaging. Comparing tracking errors across
synthetic and patient data revealed that certain network
architectures are more robust to the scatter and noise profiles
encountered in typical clinical settings. These learnings will
inform future developments in real-time motion tracking. Our
code is available at
https://github.com/Image-X-Institute/Voxelmap .
Gardner, Mark; Bouchta, Youssef Ben; Truant, Daniel; Mylonas, Adam; Sykes, Jonathan; Sundaresan, Purnima; Keall, Paul J
Deep learning-based real-time detection of head and neck tumors during radiation therapy Journal Article
In: Phys. Med. Biol., vol. 70, no. 15, pp. 155007, 2025.
@article{Gardner2025-ui,
title = {Deep learning-based real-time detection of head and neck tumors
during radiation therapy},
author = {Mark Gardner and Youssef Ben Bouchta and Daniel Truant and Adam Mylonas and Jonathan Sykes and Purnima Sundaresan and Paul J Keall},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-01},
journal = {Phys. Med. Biol.},
volume = {70},
number = {15},
pages = {155007},
publisher = {IOP Publishing},
abstract = {Objective.Clinical drivers for real-time head and neck (H&N)
tumor tracking during radiation therapy (RT) are accounting for
motion caused by changes to the immobilization mask fit, and to
reduce mask-related patient distress by replacing the masks with
patient motion management methods. The purpose of this paper is
to investigate a deep learning-based method to segment H&N
tumors in patient kilovoltage (kV) x-ray images to enable
real-time H&N tumor tracking during RT.Approach.An
ethics-approved clinical study collected data from 17 H&N
cancer patients undergoing conventional H&N RT. For each
patient, personalized conditional generative adversarial
networks (cGANs) were trained to segment H&N tumors in kV x-ray
images. Network training data were derived from each patient's
planning CT and contoured gross tumor volumes (GTV). For each
training epoch, the planning CT and GTV were deformed and
forward projected to create the training dataset. The testing
data consisted of kV x-ray images used to reconstruct the
pre-treatment CBCT volume for the first, middle and end
fractions. The ground truth tumor locations were derived by
deformably registering the planning CT to the pre-treatment CBCT
and then deforming the GTV and forward projecting the deformed
GTV. The generated cGAN segmentations were compared to ground
truth tumor segmentations using the absolute magnitude of the
centroid error and the mean surface distance (MSD) metrics.Main results.The centroid error for the nasopharynx (n= 4), oropharynx (n= 9) and larynx (n= 4) patients was 1.5 $±$ 0.9
mm, 2.4 $±$ 1.6 mm, 3.5 $±$ 2.2 mm respectively and the MSD
was 1.5 $±$ 0.3 mm, 1.9 $±$ 0.9 mm and 2.3 $±$ 1.0 mm
respectively. There was a weak correlation between the centroid error and the LR tumor location (r= 0.41), which was higher for oropharynx patients (r= 0.77).Significance.The paper reports on
markerless H&N tumor detection accuracy using kV images.
Accurate tracking of H&N tumors can enable more precise RT
leading to mask-free RT enabling better patient outcomes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
tumor tracking during radiation therapy (RT) are accounting for
motion caused by changes to the immobilization mask fit, and to
reduce mask-related patient distress by replacing the masks with
patient motion management methods. The purpose of this paper is
to investigate a deep learning-based method to segment H&N
tumors in patient kilovoltage (kV) x-ray images to enable
real-time H&N tumor tracking during RT.Approach.An
ethics-approved clinical study collected data from 17 H&N
cancer patients undergoing conventional H&N RT. For each
patient, personalized conditional generative adversarial
networks (cGANs) were trained to segment H&N tumors in kV x-ray
images. Network training data were derived from each patient’s
planning CT and contoured gross tumor volumes (GTV). For each
training epoch, the planning CT and GTV were deformed and
forward projected to create the training dataset. The testing
data consisted of kV x-ray images used to reconstruct the
pre-treatment CBCT volume for the first, middle and end
fractions. The ground truth tumor locations were derived by
deformably registering the planning CT to the pre-treatment CBCT
and then deforming the GTV and forward projecting the deformed
GTV. The generated cGAN segmentations were compared to ground
truth tumor segmentations using the absolute magnitude of the
centroid error and the mean surface distance (MSD) metrics.Main results.The centroid error for the nasopharynx (n= 4), oropharynx (n= 9) and larynx (n= 4) patients was 1.5 $±$ 0.9
mm, 2.4 $±$ 1.6 mm, 3.5 $±$ 2.2 mm respectively and the MSD
was 1.5 $±$ 0.3 mm, 1.9 $±$ 0.9 mm and 2.3 $±$ 1.0 mm
respectively. There was a weak correlation between the centroid error and the LR tumor location (r= 0.41), which was higher for oropharynx patients (r= 0.77).Significance.The paper reports on
markerless H&N tumor detection accuracy using kV images.
Accurate tracking of H&N tumors can enable more precise RT
leading to mask-free RT enabling better patient outcomes.
Brighi, Caterina; Parrella, Giovanni; Morelli, Letizia; Molinelli, Silvia; Magro, Giuseppe; Lillo, Sara; Iannalfi, Alberto; Ciocca, Mario; Imparato, Sara; Waddington, David E J; Keall, Paul; Paganelli, Chiara; Orlandi, Ester; Baroni, Guido
Evaluating the technical feasibility of biology-guided dose painting in proton therapy Journal Article
In: Phys. Imaging Radiat. Oncol., vol. 35, no. 100832, pp. 100832, 2025.
@article{Brighi2025-kt,
title = {Evaluating the technical feasibility of biology-guided dose
painting in proton therapy},
author = {Caterina Brighi and Giovanni Parrella and Letizia Morelli and Silvia Molinelli and Giuseppe Magro and Sara Lillo and Alberto Iannalfi and Mario Ciocca and Sara Imparato and David E J Waddington and Paul Keall and Chiara Paganelli and Ester Orlandi and Guido Baroni},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-01},
journal = {Phys. Imaging Radiat. Oncol.},
volume = {35},
number = {100832},
pages = {100832},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {Biology-guided voxel-level inverse prescription mapping for dose
painting (DP) using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance
imaging was evaluated for technical feasibility in proton
therapy for 10 skull-base chordoma patients. Patient-specific DP
prescriptions were generated from tumour cellularity and
implemented in a clinical treatment planning system. Compared
with uniform plans, DP achieved lower conformity (although >97
%), improved target dose metrics, reduced doses to most organs
at risk, and increased tumour control probability without
exceeding clinical constraints. DP proton therapy is technically
feasible and may enhance treatment effectiveness.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
painting (DP) using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance
imaging was evaluated for technical feasibility in proton
therapy for 10 skull-base chordoma patients. Patient-specific DP
prescriptions were generated from tumour cellularity and
implemented in a clinical treatment planning system. Compared
with uniform plans, DP achieved lower conformity (although >97
%), improved target dose metrics, reduced doses to most organs
at risk, and increased tumour control probability without
exceeding clinical constraints. DP proton therapy is technically
feasible and may enhance treatment effectiveness.
Ahmed, Abdella M; Madden, Levi; Stewart, Maegan; Chow, Brian V Y; Mylonas, Adam; Brown, Ryan; Metz, Gabrielle; Shepherd, Meegan; Coronel, Carlito; Ambrose, Leigh; Turk, Alex; Crispin, Maiko; Kneebone, Andrew; Hruby, George; Keall, Paul; Booth, Jeremy T
Patient-specific deep learning tracking for real-time 2D pancreas localisation in kV-guided radiotherapy Journal Article
In: Phys. Imaging Radiat. Oncol., vol. 35, no. 100794, pp. 100794, 2025.
@article{Ahmed2025-vg,
title = {Patient-specific deep learning tracking for real-time 2D
pancreas localisation in kV-guided radiotherapy},
author = {Abdella M Ahmed and Levi Madden and Maegan Stewart and Brian V Y Chow and Adam Mylonas and Ryan Brown and Gabrielle Metz and Meegan Shepherd and Carlito Coronel and Leigh Ambrose and Alex Turk and Maiko Crispin and Andrew Kneebone and George Hruby and Paul Keall and Jeremy T Booth},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-01},
journal = {Phys. Imaging Radiat. Oncol.},
volume = {35},
number = {100794},
pages = {100794},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {Background and purpose: In pancreatic stereotactic body
radiotherapy (SBRT), accurate motion management is crucial for
the safe delivery of high doses per fraction. Intra-fraction
tracking with magnetic resonance imaging-guidance for gated SBRT
has shown potential for improved local control. Visualisation of
pancreas (and surrounding organs) remains challenging in
intra-fraction kilo-voltage (kV) imaging, requiring implanted
fiducials. In this study, we investigate patient-specific
deep-learning approaches to track the gross-tumour-volume (GTV),
pancreas-head and the whole-pancreas in intra-fraction kV
images. Materials and methods:
Conditional-generative-adversarial-networks were trained and
tested on data from 25 patients enrolled in an ethics-approved
pancreatic SBRT trial for contour prediction on intra-fraction
2D kV images. Labelled digitally-reconstructed-radiographs
(DRRs) were generated from contoured
planning-computed-tomography (CTs) (CT-DRRs) and cone-beam-CTs
(CBCT-DRRs). A population model was trained using CT-DRRs of 19
patients. Two patient-specific model types were created for six
additional patients by fine-tuning the population model using
CBCT-DRRs (CBCT-models) or CT-DRRs (CT-models) acquired in
exhale-breath-hold. Model predictions on unseen triggered-kV
images from the corresponding six patients were evaluated
against projected-contours using Dice-Similarity-Coefficient
(DSC), centroid-error (CE), average Hausdorff-distance (AHD),
and Hausdorff-distance at 95th-percentile (HD95). Results: The
mean $±$ 1SD (standard-deviation) DSCs were 0.86 $±$ 0.09
(CBCT-models) and 0.78 $±$ 0.12 (CT-models). For AHD and CE,
the CBCT-model predicted contours within 2.0 mm $geq$90.3 % of
the time, while HD95 was within 5.0 mm $geq$90.0 % of the
time, and had a prediction time of 29.2 $±$ 3.7 ms per
contour. Conclusion: The patient-specific CBCT-models
outperformed the CT-models and predicted the three contours with
90th-percentile error $łeq$2.0 mm, indicating the potential for
clinical real-time application.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
radiotherapy (SBRT), accurate motion management is crucial for
the safe delivery of high doses per fraction. Intra-fraction
tracking with magnetic resonance imaging-guidance for gated SBRT
has shown potential for improved local control. Visualisation of
pancreas (and surrounding organs) remains challenging in
intra-fraction kilo-voltage (kV) imaging, requiring implanted
fiducials. In this study, we investigate patient-specific
deep-learning approaches to track the gross-tumour-volume (GTV),
pancreas-head and the whole-pancreas in intra-fraction kV
images. Materials and methods:
Conditional-generative-adversarial-networks were trained and
tested on data from 25 patients enrolled in an ethics-approved
pancreatic SBRT trial for contour prediction on intra-fraction
2D kV images. Labelled digitally-reconstructed-radiographs
(DRRs) were generated from contoured
planning-computed-tomography (CTs) (CT-DRRs) and cone-beam-CTs
(CBCT-DRRs). A population model was trained using CT-DRRs of 19
patients. Two patient-specific model types were created for six
additional patients by fine-tuning the population model using
CBCT-DRRs (CBCT-models) or CT-DRRs (CT-models) acquired in
exhale-breath-hold. Model predictions on unseen triggered-kV
images from the corresponding six patients were evaluated
against projected-contours using Dice-Similarity-Coefficient
(DSC), centroid-error (CE), average Hausdorff-distance (AHD),
and Hausdorff-distance at 95th-percentile (HD95). Results: The
mean $±$ 1SD (standard-deviation) DSCs were 0.86 $±$ 0.09
(CBCT-models) and 0.78 $±$ 0.12 (CT-models). For AHD and CE,
the CBCT-model predicted contours within 2.0 mm $geq$90.3 % of
the time, while HD95 was within 5.0 mm $geq$90.0 % of the
time, and had a prediction time of 29.2 $±$ 3.7 ms per
contour. Conclusion: The patient-specific CBCT-models
outperformed the CT-models and predicted the three contours with
90th-percentile error $łeq$2.0 mm, indicating the potential for
clinical real-time application.
Mylonas, Adam; Li, Zeyao; Mueller, Marco; Booth, Jeremy T; Brown, Ryan; Gardner, Mark; Kneebone, Andrew; Eade, Thomas; Keall, Paul J; Nguyen, Doan Trang
Patient-specific prostate segmentation in kilovoltage images for radiation therapy intrafraction monitoring via deep learning Journal Article
In: Commun. Med. (Lond.), vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 212, 2025.
@article{Mylonas2025-ry,
title = {Patient-specific prostate segmentation in kilovoltage images for
radiation therapy intrafraction monitoring via deep learning},
author = {Adam Mylonas and Zeyao Li and Marco Mueller and Jeremy T Booth and Ryan Brown and Mark Gardner and Andrew Kneebone and Thomas Eade and Paul J Keall and Doan Trang Nguyen},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-06-01},
journal = {Commun. Med. (Lond.)},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {212},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: During radiation therapy, the natural movement of
organs can lead to underdosing the cancer and overdosing the
healthy tissue, compromising treatment efficacy. Real-time
image-guided adaptive radiation therapy can track the tumour and
account for the motion. Typically, fiducial markers are implanted
as a surrogate for the tumour position due to the low
radiographic contrast of soft tissues in kilovoltage (kV) images.
A segmentation approach that does not require markers would
eliminate the costs, delays, and risks associated with marker
implantation. METHODS: We trained patient-specific conditional
Generative Adversarial Networks for prostate segmentation in kV
images. The networks were trained using synthetic kV images
generated from each patient's own imaging and planning data,
which are available prior to the commencement of treatment. We
validated the networks on two treatment fractions from 30
patients using multi-centre data from two clinical trials.
RESULTS: Here, we present a large-scale proof-of-principle study
of x-ray-based markerless prostate segmentation for globally
available cancer therapy systems. Our results demonstrate the
feasibility of a deep learning approach using kV images to track
prostate motion across the entire treatment arc for 30 patients
with prostate cancer. The mean absolute deviation is 1.4 and 1.6
mm in the anterior-posterior/lateral and superior-inferior
directions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Markerless segmentation
via deep learning may enable real-time image guidance on
conventional cancer therapy systems without requiring implanted
markers or additional hardware, thereby expanding access to
real-time adaptive radiation therapy.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
organs can lead to underdosing the cancer and overdosing the
healthy tissue, compromising treatment efficacy. Real-time
image-guided adaptive radiation therapy can track the tumour and
account for the motion. Typically, fiducial markers are implanted
as a surrogate for the tumour position due to the low
radiographic contrast of soft tissues in kilovoltage (kV) images.
A segmentation approach that does not require markers would
eliminate the costs, delays, and risks associated with marker
implantation. METHODS: We trained patient-specific conditional
Generative Adversarial Networks for prostate segmentation in kV
images. The networks were trained using synthetic kV images
generated from each patient’s own imaging and planning data,
which are available prior to the commencement of treatment. We
validated the networks on two treatment fractions from 30
patients using multi-centre data from two clinical trials.
RESULTS: Here, we present a large-scale proof-of-principle study
of x-ray-based markerless prostate segmentation for globally
available cancer therapy systems. Our results demonstrate the
feasibility of a deep learning approach using kV images to track
prostate motion across the entire treatment arc for 30 patients
with prostate cancer. The mean absolute deviation is 1.4 and 1.6
mm in the anterior-posterior/lateral and superior-inferior
directions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Markerless segmentation
via deep learning may enable real-time image guidance on
conventional cancer therapy systems without requiring implanted
markers or additional hardware, thereby expanding access to
real-time adaptive radiation therapy.
Gardner, Mark; Dillon, Owen; Reynolds, Tess; Kipritidis, John; Bazalova-Carter, Magdalena; Byrne, Hilary; Stewart, Maegan; Booth, Jeremy; Keall, Paul J
Evaluation of 4D cone-beam CT reconstruction methods for lung images acquired using rapid cone-beam CT acquisition: a phantom study Journal Article
In: Phys. Med. Biol., vol. 70, no. 13, pp. 135004, 2025.
@article{Gardner2025-qe,
title = {Evaluation of 4D cone-beam CT reconstruction methods for
lung images acquired using rapid cone-beam CT acquisition: a
phantom study},
author = {Mark Gardner and Owen Dillon and Tess Reynolds and John Kipritidis and Magdalena Bazalova-Carter and Hilary Byrne and Maegan Stewart and Jeremy Booth and Paul J Keall},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-06-01},
journal = {Phys. Med. Biol.},
volume = {70},
number = {13},
pages = {135004},
publisher = {IOP Publishing},
abstract = {Objective. Cone-beam CT (CBCT) technological advances for linear
accelerators (Linacs) have led to CBCT imaging in <20 s, which
can reduce radiation therapy treatment times. However, these
rapid CBCT scans only allow for 3DCBCT images. In this paper we
evaluate 4DCBCT reconstruction methods for rapid acquisition
3DCBCT protocol scans using an anthropomorphic breathing
phantom.Approach. We evaluate two previously developed
motion-compensated Feldkamp-Davis-Kress (MCFDK) methods, using a
prior-motion model (MCFDK-Prior) and a data-driven MCFDK method
(MCFDK-DD), on CBCT images of the phantom using an Ethos linac.
The deformable phantom lungs contained three synthetic tumours
and a commercial phantom motion platform with a sinusoidal
breathing pattern. The phantom was imaged in free-breathing with
rapid (16.6 s) and standard (30.8 s) thorax 3DCBCT acquisition
protocols, then reimaged while stationary at inhale and exhale,
which were the ground truth reconstructions. MCFDK
reconstructions were compared with conventional 3D-FDK and
4D-FDK reconstructions. Image quality was compared between all
reconstructions using mean square error (MSE), structural
similarity index measurement (SSIM), peak signal-to-noise
(PSNR), edge response width (ERW) for the diaphragm-lung border
for the right lung, tumour centroid accuracy, tumour dice
similarity coefficient and sphericity.Main results. For all
metrics the MCFDK-Prior reconstructions performed better than
the 3D-FDK reconstructions. Similarly for all tumour-related
metrics as well as ERW the MCFDK-DD reconstructions performed
better than then 3D-FDK reconstructions, but the overall MSE,
SSIM and PSNR were similar for the MCFDK-DD and 3D-FDK
reconstructions. For all metrics except for tumour centroid
error the MCFDK-Prior method produced better quality
reconstructions than the MCFDK-DD method. 4D-FDK reconstructions
produced poor quality volumes.Significance. We demonstrated that
4DCBCT reconstruction for rapid CBCT acquisition protocols is
possible and leads to reduced motion artefacts and more accurate
reconstructions when compared to 3DCBCT reconstructions. The
4DCBCT methods demonstrated in this paper will allow for fast,
accurate 4DCBCT acquisition for new linacs.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
accelerators (Linacs) have led to CBCT imaging in <20 s, which
can reduce radiation therapy treatment times. However, these
rapid CBCT scans only allow for 3DCBCT images. In this paper we
evaluate 4DCBCT reconstruction methods for rapid acquisition
3DCBCT protocol scans using an anthropomorphic breathing
phantom.Approach. We evaluate two previously developed
motion-compensated Feldkamp-Davis-Kress (MCFDK) methods, using a
prior-motion model (MCFDK-Prior) and a data-driven MCFDK method
(MCFDK-DD), on CBCT images of the phantom using an Ethos linac.
The deformable phantom lungs contained three synthetic tumours
and a commercial phantom motion platform with a sinusoidal
breathing pattern. The phantom was imaged in free-breathing with
rapid (16.6 s) and standard (30.8 s) thorax 3DCBCT acquisition
protocols, then reimaged while stationary at inhale and exhale,
which were the ground truth reconstructions. MCFDK
reconstructions were compared with conventional 3D-FDK and
4D-FDK reconstructions. Image quality was compared between all
reconstructions using mean square error (MSE), structural
similarity index measurement (SSIM), peak signal-to-noise
(PSNR), edge response width (ERW) for the diaphragm-lung border
for the right lung, tumour centroid accuracy, tumour dice
similarity coefficient and sphericity.Main results. For all
metrics the MCFDK-Prior reconstructions performed better than
the 3D-FDK reconstructions. Similarly for all tumour-related
metrics as well as ERW the MCFDK-DD reconstructions performed
better than then 3D-FDK reconstructions, but the overall MSE,
SSIM and PSNR were similar for the MCFDK-DD and 3D-FDK
reconstructions. For all metrics except for tumour centroid
error the MCFDK-Prior method produced better quality
reconstructions than the MCFDK-DD method. 4D-FDK reconstructions
produced poor quality volumes.Significance. We demonstrated that
4DCBCT reconstruction for rapid CBCT acquisition protocols is
possible and leads to reduced motion artefacts and more accurate
reconstructions when compared to 3DCBCT reconstructions. The
4DCBCT methods demonstrated in this paper will allow for fast,
accurate 4DCBCT acquisition for new linacs.
Krim, Deae-Eddine; Whelan, Brendan; Harkness, Mindy; Otto, Karl; Loo, Billy W Jr; Bazalova-Carter, Magdalena
Monte Carlo simulation of a novel medical linac concept for highly conformal x-ray FLASH cancer radiotherapy Journal Article
In: Sci. Rep., vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 17604, 2025.
@article{Krim2025-la,
title = {Monte Carlo simulation of a novel medical linac concept for
highly conformal x-ray FLASH cancer radiotherapy},
author = {Deae-Eddine Krim and Brendan Whelan and Mindy Harkness and Karl Otto and Billy W Jr Loo and Magdalena Bazalova-Carter},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-05-01},
journal = {Sci. Rep.},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {17604},
abstract = {A growing body of pre-clinical research has demonstrated the
potential of ultra-high dose-rate (UHDR) radiotherapy to reduce
normal tissue toxicity while maintaining tumor control. However,
owing to a wide range of technical difficulties, no existing
x-ray systems are capable of highly conformal UHDR radiotherapy
to humans. In this work, we designed and simulated a novel x-ray
UHDR system representing a next-generation solution for rapid and
highly conformal treatment delivery. This system comprises 16
stationary beamlines employing a new class of highly efficient
linear accelerator to generate 12 MeV electron beams
electromagnetically steered onto a bremsstrahlung target, a
collimator with channels to create a divergent array of x-ray
beamlets, and a translating patient couch. The system design was
tuned to maximize the dose rate while minimizing beam penumbra
and cross-channel leakage. A simulation framework was developed
to facilitate iteration of machine parameters during
optimization. A treatment plan for a case of locally advanced
lung cancer was generated using an in-house optimizer to assess
the capabilities of the x-ray UHDR system. Individual beamlets of
10, 15, and 20-mm in size can produce isocenter dose rates of
17.3, 18.7, and 19.7-Gy/mAs and cross-channel leakage of 2.3,
1.9, and [Formula: see text], respectively. The novel UHDR
10-Gy/fraction plan exhibited comparable or improved conformity,
homogeneity, and mean dose to organs at risk compared to the
clinically used plan and it was delivered in 500 ms with more
than [Formula: see text] of target volume receiving local dose
rates higher than 40Gy/s.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
potential of ultra-high dose-rate (UHDR) radiotherapy to reduce
normal tissue toxicity while maintaining tumor control. However,
owing to a wide range of technical difficulties, no existing
x-ray systems are capable of highly conformal UHDR radiotherapy
to humans. In this work, we designed and simulated a novel x-ray
UHDR system representing a next-generation solution for rapid and
highly conformal treatment delivery. This system comprises 16
stationary beamlines employing a new class of highly efficient
linear accelerator to generate 12 MeV electron beams
electromagnetically steered onto a bremsstrahlung target, a
collimator with channels to create a divergent array of x-ray
beamlets, and a translating patient couch. The system design was
tuned to maximize the dose rate while minimizing beam penumbra
and cross-channel leakage. A simulation framework was developed
to facilitate iteration of machine parameters during
optimization. A treatment plan for a case of locally advanced
lung cancer was generated using an in-house optimizer to assess
the capabilities of the x-ray UHDR system. Individual beamlets of
10, 15, and 20-mm in size can produce isocenter dose rates of
17.3, 18.7, and 19.7-Gy/mAs and cross-channel leakage of 2.3,
1.9, and [Formula: see text], respectively. The novel UHDR
10-Gy/fraction plan exhibited comparable or improved conformity,
homogeneity, and mean dose to organs at risk compared to the
clinically used plan and it was delivered in 500 ms with more
than [Formula: see text] of target volume receiving local dose
rates higher than 40Gy/s.
Trada, Yuvnik; Lee, Mark T; Jameson, Michael G; Chlap, Phillip; Keall, Paul; Moses, Daniel; Lin, Peter; Fowler, Allan
Mid-treatment changes in intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity correlate to outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients Journal Article
In: EJNMMI Res., vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 31, 2025.
@article{Trada2025-jn,
title = {Mid-treatment changes in intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity
correlate to outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
patients},
author = {Yuvnik Trada and Mark T Lee and Michael G Jameson and Phillip Chlap and Paul Keall and Daniel Moses and Peter Lin and Allan Fowler},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
journal = {EJNMMI Res.},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {31},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: This study evaluated mid-treatment changes in
intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity and quantitative
FDG-PET/CT imaging parameters and correlated the changes with
treatment outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC)
patients. 114 patients from two independent cohorts underwent
baseline and mid-treatment (week 3) FDG-PET. Standardized uptake
value maximum (SUVmax), standardized uptake value mean
(SUVmean), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), and total lesional
glycolysis (TLG) were measured. Intra-tumoural metabolic
heterogeneity was quantified as the area under a cumulative
SUV-volume histogram curve (AUC-CSH). Baseline and relative
change (%∆) in imaging features were correlated to locoregional
recurrence free survival (LRRFS) using multivariate Cox
regression analysis. Patients were stratified into three risk
groups utilising ∆AUC-CSH and known prognostic features, then
compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Median follow up
was 39 months. 18% of patients developed locoregional
recurrence at 2 years. A decrease in heterogeneity (∆AUC-CSH:
24%) was observed mid-treatment. There was no statistically
significant difference in tumour heterogeneity (AUC-CSH) at baseline (p = 0.134) and change at week 3 (p = 0.306) between
p16 positive and p16 negative patients. Baseline imaging
features did not correlate to LRRFS. However, ∆MTV (aHR 1.04;
95% CI 1.03-1.06; p < 0.001) and ∆AUC-CSH (aHR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94-0.98; p = 0.004) were correlated to LRRFS. Stratification
using ∆AUC-CSH and p16 status into three groups showed
significant differences in LRR (2 year LRRFS 94%, 79%, 17%;
log rank p < 0.001). Stratification using ∆AUC-CSH and ∆MTV into
three groups showed significant differences in LRR (2 year LRRFS
93%, 70%, 17%; log rank p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Mid-treatment
changes in intra-tumoural FDG-PET/CT heterogeneity correlated
with treatment outcomes in OPSCC and may help with response
prediction. These findings suggest potential utility in
designing future risk adaptive clinical trials.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity and quantitative
FDG-PET/CT imaging parameters and correlated the changes with
treatment outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC)
patients. 114 patients from two independent cohorts underwent
baseline and mid-treatment (week 3) FDG-PET. Standardized uptake
value maximum (SUVmax), standardized uptake value mean
(SUVmean), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), and total lesional
glycolysis (TLG) were measured. Intra-tumoural metabolic
heterogeneity was quantified as the area under a cumulative
SUV-volume histogram curve (AUC-CSH). Baseline and relative
change (%∆) in imaging features were correlated to locoregional
recurrence free survival (LRRFS) using multivariate Cox
regression analysis. Patients were stratified into three risk
groups utilising ∆AUC-CSH and known prognostic features, then
compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Median follow up
was 39 months. 18% of patients developed locoregional
recurrence at 2 years. A decrease in heterogeneity (∆AUC-CSH:
24%) was observed mid-treatment. There was no statistically
significant difference in tumour heterogeneity (AUC-CSH) at baseline (p = 0.134) and change at week 3 (p = 0.306) between
p16 positive and p16 negative patients. Baseline imaging
features did not correlate to LRRFS. However, ∆MTV (aHR 1.04;
95% CI 1.03-1.06; p < 0.001) and ∆AUC-CSH (aHR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94-0.98; p = 0.004) were correlated to LRRFS. Stratification
using ∆AUC-CSH and p16 status into three groups showed
significant differences in LRR (2 year LRRFS 94%, 79%, 17%;
log rank p < 0.001). Stratification using ∆AUC-CSH and ∆MTV into
three groups showed significant differences in LRR (2 year LRRFS
93%, 70%, 17%; log rank p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Mid-treatment
changes in intra-tumoural FDG-PET/CT heterogeneity correlated
with treatment outcomes in OPSCC and may help with response
prediction. These findings suggest potential utility in
designing future risk adaptive clinical trials.
Janowicz, Phillip W; Boele, Thomas; Maschmeyer, Richard T; Gholami, Yaser H; Kempe, Emma G; Stringer, Brett W; Stoner, Shihani P; Zhang, Marie; Toit-Thompson, Taymin; Williams, Fern; Touffu, Aude; Munoz, Lenka; Kuncic, Zdenka; Brighi, Caterina; Waddington, David E J
Enhanced detection of glioblastoma vasculature with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and MRI Journal Article
In: Sci. Rep., vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 14283, 2025.
@article{Janowicz2025-nn,
title = {Enhanced detection of glioblastoma vasculature with
superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and MRI},
author = {Phillip W Janowicz and Thomas Boele and Richard T Maschmeyer and Yaser H Gholami and Emma G Kempe and Brett W Stringer and Shihani P Stoner and Marie Zhang and Taymin Toit-Thompson and Fern Williams and Aude Touffu and Lenka Munoz and Zdenka Kuncic and Caterina Brighi and David E J Waddington},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
journal = {Sci. Rep.},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {14283},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Detecting glioblastoma infiltration in the brain is challenging
due to limited MRI contrast beyond the enhancing tumour core.
This study aims to investigate the potential of
superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as contrast
agents for improved detection of diffuse brain cancer. We
examine the distribution and pharmacokinetics of SPIONs in
glioblastoma models with intact and disrupted blood-brain
barriers. Using MRI, we imaged RN1-luc and U87MG mice injected
with Gadovist and SPIONs, observing differences in blood-brain
barrier permeability. Peripheral imaging showed strong uptake of
nanoparticles in the liver and spleen, while vascular and renal
signals were transient. Susceptibility gradient mapping enabled
positive nanoparticle contrast within tumours and provided
additional information on tumour angiogenesis. This approach
offers a novel method for detecting diffuse brain cancer. Our
findings demonstrate that SPIONs enhance glioblastoma detection
beyond conventional MRI, providing insights into tumour
angiogenesis and opening new avenues for early diagnosis and
targeted treatment strategies.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
due to limited MRI contrast beyond the enhancing tumour core.
This study aims to investigate the potential of
superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as contrast
agents for improved detection of diffuse brain cancer. We
examine the distribution and pharmacokinetics of SPIONs in
glioblastoma models with intact and disrupted blood-brain
barriers. Using MRI, we imaged RN1-luc and U87MG mice injected
with Gadovist and SPIONs, observing differences in blood-brain
barrier permeability. Peripheral imaging showed strong uptake of
nanoparticles in the liver and spleen, while vascular and renal
signals were transient. Susceptibility gradient mapping enabled
positive nanoparticle contrast within tumours and provided
additional information on tumour angiogenesis. This approach
offers a novel method for detecting diffuse brain cancer. Our
findings demonstrate that SPIONs enhance glioblastoma detection
beyond conventional MRI, providing insights into tumour
angiogenesis and opening new avenues for early diagnosis and
targeted treatment strategies.
Hindmarsh, Jonathan; Crowe, Scott; Johnson, Julia; Sengupta, Chandrima; Walsh, Jemma; Dieterich, Sonja; Booth, Jeremy; Keall, Paul
A dosimetric comparison of helical tomotherapy treatment delivery with real-time adaption and no motion correction Journal Article
In: Phys. Imaging Radiat. Oncol., vol. 34, no. 100741, pp. 100741, 2025.
@article{Hindmarsh2025-ec,
title = {A dosimetric comparison of helical tomotherapy treatment
delivery with real-time adaption and no motion correction},
author = {Jonathan Hindmarsh and Scott Crowe and Julia Johnson and Chandrima Sengupta and Jemma Walsh and Sonja Dieterich and Jeremy Booth and Paul Keall},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
journal = {Phys. Imaging Radiat. Oncol.},
volume = {34},
number = {100741},
pages = {100741},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {This study assesses the ability of a helical tomotherapy system
equipped with kV imaging and optical surface guidance to adapt
to motion traces in real-time. To assess the delivery accuracy
with motion, a unified testing framework was used. The average 2
%/2 mm γ-fail rates across all lung traces were 0.1 %
for motion adapted and 17.4 % for no motion correction. Average
2 %/2 mm γ-fail rates across all prostate traces were
0.4 % for motion adapted and 12.2 % for no motion correction.
Real-time motion adaption was shown to improve the accuracy of
dose delivered to a moving phantom compared with no motion
adaption. MeSH Keywords: Radiotherapy, image-guided; Radiation
therapy, targeted.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
equipped with kV imaging and optical surface guidance to adapt
to motion traces in real-time. To assess the delivery accuracy
with motion, a unified testing framework was used. The average 2
%/2 mm γ-fail rates across all lung traces were 0.1 %
for motion adapted and 17.4 % for no motion correction. Average
2 %/2 mm γ-fail rates across all prostate traces were
0.4 % for motion adapted and 12.2 % for no motion correction.
Real-time motion adaption was shown to improve the accuracy of
dose delivered to a moving phantom compared with no motion
adaption. MeSH Keywords: Radiotherapy, image-guided; Radiation
therapy, targeted.
Gardner, Mark; Finnegan, Robert N; Dillon, Owen; Chin, Vicky; Reynolds, Tess; Keall, Paul J
Investigation of cardiac substructure automatic segmentation methods on synthetically generated 4D cone-beam CT images Journal Article
In: Med. Phys., vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 2224–2237, 2025.
@article{Gardner2025-er,
title = {Investigation of cardiac substructure automatic segmentation
methods on synthetically generated 4D cone-beam CT images},
author = {Mark Gardner and Robert N Finnegan and Owen Dillon and Vicky Chin and Tess Reynolds and Paul J Keall},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
journal = {Med. Phys.},
volume = {52},
number = {4},
pages = {2224–2237},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: STereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation (STAR) is a
novel noninvasive method for treating arrythmias in which
external beam radiation is directed towards subregions of the
heart. Challenges for accurate STAR targeting include small
target volumes and relatively large patient motion, which can
lead to radiation related patient toxicities. 4D Cone-beam CT
(CBCT) images are used for stereotactic lung treatments to
account for respiration-related patient motion. 4D-CBCT imaging
could similarly be used to account for respiration-related
patient motion in STAR; however, the poor contrast of heart
tissue in CBCT makes identifying cardiac substructures in
4D-CBCT images challenging. If cardiac structures can be
identified in pre-treatment 4D-CBCT images, then the location of
the target volume can be more accurately identified for
different phases of the respiration cycle, leading to more
accurate targeting and a reduction in patient toxicities.
PURPOSE: The aim of this simulation study is to investigate the
accuracy of different cardiac substructure segmentation methods
for 4D-CBCT images. METHODS: Repeat 4D-CT scans from 13 lung
cancer patients were obtained from The Cancer Imaging Archive.
Synthetic 4D-CBCT images for each patient were simulated by
forward projecting and reconstructing each respiration phase of
a chosen ``testing'' 4D-CT scan. Eighteen cardiac structures
were segmented from each respiration phase image in the testing
4D-CT using the previously validated platipy toolkit. The
platipy segmentations from the testing 4D-CT were defined as the
ground truth segmentations for the synthetic 4D-CBCT images.
Five different 4D-CBCT cardiac segmentation methods were
investigated: 3D Rigid Alignment, 4D Rigid Alignment, Direct
CBCT Segmentation, Contour Transformation, and Synthetic CT
Segmentation methods. For all methods except the Direct CBCT
segmentation method, a separate 4D-CT (Planning CT) was used to
assist in generating 4D-CBCT segmentations. Segmentation
performance was measured using the Dice similarity coefficient
(DSC), Hausdorff distance (HD), mean surface distance (MSD), and
volume ratio (VR) metrics. RESULTS: The mean $±$ standard
deviation DSC for all cardiac substructures for the 3D Rigid
Alignment, 4D Rigid Alignment, Direct CBCT Segmentation, Contour
Transformation, and Synthetic CT Segmentation methods were 0.48
$±$ 0.29, 0.52 $±$ 0.29, 0.37 $±$ 0.32, 0.53 $±$ 0.29,
0.57 $±$ 0.28, respectively. Similarly, the HD values were
10.9 $±$ 3.6 , 9.9 $±$ 2.6 , 17.3 $±$ 5.3 , 9.9 $±$ 2.8
, 9.3 $±$ 3.0 mm, the MSD values were 2.9 $±$ 0.6 , 2.9
$±$ 0.6 , 6.3 $±$ 2.5 , 2.5 $±$ 0.6 , 2.4 $±$ 0.8 mm,
and the VR Values were 0.81 $±$ 0.12, 0.78 $±$ 0.14, 1.10
$±$ 0.47, 0.72 $±$ 0.15, 0.98 $±$ 0.44, respectively. Of
the five methods investigated the Synthetic CT segmentation
method generated the most accurate segmentations for all
calculated segmentation metrics. CONCLUSION: This simulation
study investigates the accuracy of different cardiac
substructure segmentation methods for 4D-CBCT images. Accurate
4D-CBCT cardiac segmentation will provide more accurate
information on the location of cardiac anatomy during STAR
treatments which can lead to safer and more effective STAR. As
the data and segmentation methods used in this study are all
open source, this study provides a useful benchmarking tool to
evaluate other CBCT cardiac segmentation methods.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
novel noninvasive method for treating arrythmias in which
external beam radiation is directed towards subregions of the
heart. Challenges for accurate STAR targeting include small
target volumes and relatively large patient motion, which can
lead to radiation related patient toxicities. 4D Cone-beam CT
(CBCT) images are used for stereotactic lung treatments to
account for respiration-related patient motion. 4D-CBCT imaging
could similarly be used to account for respiration-related
patient motion in STAR; however, the poor contrast of heart
tissue in CBCT makes identifying cardiac substructures in
4D-CBCT images challenging. If cardiac structures can be
identified in pre-treatment 4D-CBCT images, then the location of
the target volume can be more accurately identified for
different phases of the respiration cycle, leading to more
accurate targeting and a reduction in patient toxicities.
PURPOSE: The aim of this simulation study is to investigate the
accuracy of different cardiac substructure segmentation methods
for 4D-CBCT images. METHODS: Repeat 4D-CT scans from 13 lung
cancer patients were obtained from The Cancer Imaging Archive.
Synthetic 4D-CBCT images for each patient were simulated by
forward projecting and reconstructing each respiration phase of
a chosen “testing” 4D-CT scan. Eighteen cardiac structures
were segmented from each respiration phase image in the testing
4D-CT using the previously validated platipy toolkit. The
platipy segmentations from the testing 4D-CT were defined as the
ground truth segmentations for the synthetic 4D-CBCT images.
Five different 4D-CBCT cardiac segmentation methods were
investigated: 3D Rigid Alignment, 4D Rigid Alignment, Direct
CBCT Segmentation, Contour Transformation, and Synthetic CT
Segmentation methods. For all methods except the Direct CBCT
segmentation method, a separate 4D-CT (Planning CT) was used to
assist in generating 4D-CBCT segmentations. Segmentation
performance was measured using the Dice similarity coefficient
(DSC), Hausdorff distance (HD), mean surface distance (MSD), and
volume ratio (VR) metrics. RESULTS: The mean $±$ standard
deviation DSC for all cardiac substructures for the 3D Rigid
Alignment, 4D Rigid Alignment, Direct CBCT Segmentation, Contour
Transformation, and Synthetic CT Segmentation methods were 0.48
$±$ 0.29, 0.52 $±$ 0.29, 0.37 $±$ 0.32, 0.53 $±$ 0.29,
0.57 $±$ 0.28, respectively. Similarly, the HD values were
10.9 $±$ 3.6 , 9.9 $±$ 2.6 , 17.3 $±$ 5.3 , 9.9 $±$ 2.8
, 9.3 $±$ 3.0 mm, the MSD values were 2.9 $±$ 0.6 , 2.9
$±$ 0.6 , 6.3 $±$ 2.5 , 2.5 $±$ 0.6 , 2.4 $±$ 0.8 mm,
and the VR Values were 0.81 $±$ 0.12, 0.78 $±$ 0.14, 1.10
$±$ 0.47, 0.72 $±$ 0.15, 0.98 $±$ 0.44, respectively. Of
the five methods investigated the Synthetic CT segmentation
method generated the most accurate segmentations for all
calculated segmentation metrics. CONCLUSION: This simulation
study investigates the accuracy of different cardiac
substructure segmentation methods for 4D-CBCT images. Accurate
4D-CBCT cardiac segmentation will provide more accurate
information on the location of cardiac anatomy during STAR
treatments which can lead to safer and more effective STAR. As
the data and segmentation methods used in this study are all
open source, this study provides a useful benchmarking tool to
evaluate other CBCT cardiac segmentation methods.
Byrne, Hilary L; Eikelis, Nina; Dusting, Jonathan; Fouras, Andreas; Keall, Paul J; Pirakalathanan, Piraveen
More accessible functional lung imaging: non-contrast CT-ventilation demonstrates strong association and agreement with PET-ventilation Journal Article
In: Respir. Res., vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 163, 2025.
@article{Byrne2025-sm,
title = {More accessible functional lung imaging: non-contrast
CT-ventilation demonstrates strong association and agreement
with PET-ventilation},
author = {Hilary L Byrne and Nina Eikelis and Jonathan Dusting and Andreas Fouras and Paul J Keall and Piraveen Pirakalathanan},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
journal = {Respir. Res.},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {163},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Computed Tomography (CT) ventilation imaging (CTVI)
is an emerging ventilation imaging technique. CTVI
implementations have been widely validated against alternative
ventilation imaging techniques but have been limited to clinical
research only. The first CTVI commercial product, CT LVAS
(4DMedical, Melbourne, Australia), was recently released
enabling its use in clinical practice. This study quantitatively
compares ventilation images from CT LVAS and previously
validated research CTVI algorithms to Galligas PET ventilation.
METHODS: 16 patients with Galligas PET and paired inhale/exhale
breath-hold CT images were taken from a publicly available
dataset on The Cancer Imaging Archive. Ventilation images were
produced using CT LVAS and two previously published algorithms:
(1) utilising the Hounsfield Unit difference (CTVI_HU); and (2)
utilising the Jacobian determinant (CTVI_Jac). CTVI images were
compared to the reference standard Galligas PET using
Bland-Altman analysis of lobar ventilation, voxel-wise Spearman
correlation, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of regions of
interest representing the top 85% and 15% of ventilation
function. RESULTS: Bland-Altman analysis showed overall bias of
< 0.01% for all CTVI methods (95% confidence interval:
$±$7.4% for CT LVAS, $±$ 9.1% for CTVI_HU, $±$ 7.9% for
CTVI_Jac). The mean Spearman correlation between CTVI and
Galligas PET was 0.61 $±$ 0.14 (p < 0.01) for CT LVAS, 0.68
$±$ 0.10 (p < 0.01) for CTVI_HU, and 0.57 $±$ 0.15 (p <
0.01) for CTVI_Jac. The mean DSC for the top 85% was 0.91 $±$
0.03 for CT LVAS, 0.92 $±$ 0.02 for CTVI_HU, and 0.91 $±$
0.03 for CTVI_Jac, with the DSC for CTVI_HU significantly higher
than the other two CTVI methods. The DSC for the top 15% was
0.47 $±$ 0.17 for CT LVAS, 0.53 $±$ 0.16 for CTVI_HU, and
0.47 $±$ 0.18 for CTVI_Jac. CONCLUSIONS: In a comparison to
Galligas PET ventilation imaging, CT LVAS performs similarly to
previous CTVI methods. Bland-Altman analysis for quantification
of lobar ventilation demonstrates negligible bias. Mean
voxel-wise Spearman correlations are moderate to good. DSC of
functionally thresholded lung regions are similar for all CTVI
methods. These results warrant further investigation of CT LVAS
as a readily available ventilation imaging tool in disease
characterisation, lung health assessment, and surgical and
targeted treatment planning. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New
Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) registration number
ACTRN12612000775819, registered on 23/07/2012.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
is an emerging ventilation imaging technique. CTVI
implementations have been widely validated against alternative
ventilation imaging techniques but have been limited to clinical
research only. The first CTVI commercial product, CT LVAS
(4DMedical, Melbourne, Australia), was recently released
enabling its use in clinical practice. This study quantitatively
compares ventilation images from CT LVAS and previously
validated research CTVI algorithms to Galligas PET ventilation.
METHODS: 16 patients with Galligas PET and paired inhale/exhale
breath-hold CT images were taken from a publicly available
dataset on The Cancer Imaging Archive. Ventilation images were
produced using CT LVAS and two previously published algorithms:
(1) utilising the Hounsfield Unit difference (CTVI_HU); and (2)
utilising the Jacobian determinant (CTVI_Jac). CTVI images were
compared to the reference standard Galligas PET using
Bland-Altman analysis of lobar ventilation, voxel-wise Spearman
correlation, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of regions of
interest representing the top 85% and 15% of ventilation
function. RESULTS: Bland-Altman analysis showed overall bias of
< 0.01% for all CTVI methods (95% confidence interval:
$±$7.4% for CT LVAS, $±$ 9.1% for CTVI_HU, $±$ 7.9% for
CTVI_Jac). The mean Spearman correlation between CTVI and
Galligas PET was 0.61 $±$ 0.14 (p < 0.01) for CT LVAS, 0.68
$±$ 0.10 (p < 0.01) for CTVI_HU, and 0.57 $±$ 0.15 (p <
0.01) for CTVI_Jac. The mean DSC for the top 85% was 0.91 $±$
0.03 for CT LVAS, 0.92 $±$ 0.02 for CTVI_HU, and 0.91 $±$
0.03 for CTVI_Jac, with the DSC for CTVI_HU significantly higher
than the other two CTVI methods. The DSC for the top 15% was
0.47 $±$ 0.17 for CT LVAS, 0.53 $±$ 0.16 for CTVI_HU, and
0.47 $±$ 0.18 for CTVI_Jac. CONCLUSIONS: In a comparison to
Galligas PET ventilation imaging, CT LVAS performs similarly to
previous CTVI methods. Bland-Altman analysis for quantification
of lobar ventilation demonstrates negligible bias. Mean
voxel-wise Spearman correlations are moderate to good. DSC of
functionally thresholded lung regions are similar for all CTVI
methods. These results warrant further investigation of CT LVAS
as a readily available ventilation imaging tool in disease
characterisation, lung health assessment, and surgical and
targeted treatment planning. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New
Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) registration number
ACTRN12612000775819, registered on 23/07/2012.
Byrne, Hilary L; Eikelis, Nina; Dusting, Jonathan; Fouras, Andreas; Keall, Paul J; Pirakalathanan, Piraveen
More accessible functional lung imaging: non-contrast CT-ventilation demonstrates strong association and agreement with PET-ventilation Journal Article
In: Respir. Res., vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 163, 2025.
@article{Byrne2025-eh,
title = {More accessible functional lung imaging: non-contrast
CT-ventilation demonstrates strong association and agreement
with PET-ventilation},
author = {Hilary L Byrne and Nina Eikelis and Jonathan Dusting and Andreas Fouras and Paul J Keall and Piraveen Pirakalathanan},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
journal = {Respir. Res.},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {163},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Computed Tomography (CT) ventilation imaging (CTVI)
is an emerging ventilation imaging technique. CTVI
implementations have been widely validated against alternative
ventilation imaging techniques but have been limited to clinical
research only. The first CTVI commercial product, CT LVAS
(4DMedical, Melbourne, Australia), was recently released
enabling its use in clinical practice. This study quantitatively
compares ventilation images from CT LVAS and previously
validated research CTVI algorithms to Galligas PET ventilation.
METHODS: 16 patients with Galligas PET and paired inhale/exhale
breath-hold CT images were taken from a publicly available
dataset on The Cancer Imaging Archive. Ventilation images were
produced using CT LVAS and two previously published algorithms:
(1) utilising the Hounsfield Unit difference (CTVI_HU); and (2)
utilising the Jacobian determinant (CTVI_Jac). CTVI images were
compared to the reference standard Galligas PET using
Bland-Altman analysis of lobar ventilation, voxel-wise Spearman
correlation, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of regions of
interest representing the top 85% and 15% of ventilation
function. RESULTS: Bland-Altman analysis showed overall bias of
< 0.01% for all CTVI methods (95% confidence interval:
$±$7.4% for CT LVAS, $±$ 9.1% for CTVI_HU, $±$ 7.9%
for CTVI_Jac). The mean Spearman correlation between CTVI and
Galligas PET was 0.61 $±$ 0.14 (p < 0.01) for CT LVAS, 0.68
$±$ 0.10 (p < 0.01) for CTVI_HU, and 0.57 $±$ 0.15 (p <
0.01) for CTVI_Jac. The mean DSC for the top 85% was 0.91
$±$ 0.03 for CT LVAS, 0.92 $±$ 0.02 for CTVI_HU, and 0.91
$±$ 0.03 for CTVI_Jac, with the DSC for CTVI_HU
significantly higher than the other two CTVI methods. The DSC
for the top 15% was 0.47 $±$ 0.17 for CT LVAS, 0.53 $±$
0.16 for CTVI_HU, and 0.47 $±$ 0.18 for CTVI_Jac.
CONCLUSIONS: In a comparison to Galligas PET ventilation
imaging, CT LVAS performs similarly to previous CTVI methods.
Bland-Altman analysis for quantification of lobar ventilation
demonstrates negligible bias. Mean voxel-wise Spearman
correlations are moderate to good. DSC of functionally
thresholded lung regions are similar for all CTVI methods. These
results warrant further investigation of CT LVAS as a readily
available ventilation imaging tool in disease characterisation,
lung health assessment, and surgical and targeted treatment
planning. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical
Trials Registry (ANZCTR) registration number
ACTRN12612000775819, registered on 23/07/2012.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
is an emerging ventilation imaging technique. CTVI
implementations have been widely validated against alternative
ventilation imaging techniques but have been limited to clinical
research only. The first CTVI commercial product, CT LVAS
(4DMedical, Melbourne, Australia), was recently released
enabling its use in clinical practice. This study quantitatively
compares ventilation images from CT LVAS and previously
validated research CTVI algorithms to Galligas PET ventilation.
METHODS: 16 patients with Galligas PET and paired inhale/exhale
breath-hold CT images were taken from a publicly available
dataset on The Cancer Imaging Archive. Ventilation images were
produced using CT LVAS and two previously published algorithms:
(1) utilising the Hounsfield Unit difference (CTVI_HU); and (2)
utilising the Jacobian determinant (CTVI_Jac). CTVI images were
compared to the reference standard Galligas PET using
Bland-Altman analysis of lobar ventilation, voxel-wise Spearman
correlation, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of regions of
interest representing the top 85% and 15% of ventilation
function. RESULTS: Bland-Altman analysis showed overall bias of
< 0.01% for all CTVI methods (95% confidence interval:
$±$7.4% for CT LVAS, $±$ 9.1% for CTVI_HU, $±$ 7.9%
for CTVI_Jac). The mean Spearman correlation between CTVI and
Galligas PET was 0.61 $±$ 0.14 (p < 0.01) for CT LVAS, 0.68
$±$ 0.10 (p < 0.01) for CTVI_HU, and 0.57 $±$ 0.15 (p <
0.01) for CTVI_Jac. The mean DSC for the top 85% was 0.91
$±$ 0.03 for CT LVAS, 0.92 $±$ 0.02 for CTVI_HU, and 0.91
$±$ 0.03 for CTVI_Jac, with the DSC for CTVI_HU
significantly higher than the other two CTVI methods. The DSC
for the top 15% was 0.47 $±$ 0.17 for CT LVAS, 0.53 $±$
0.16 for CTVI_HU, and 0.47 $±$ 0.18 for CTVI_Jac.
CONCLUSIONS: In a comparison to Galligas PET ventilation
imaging, CT LVAS performs similarly to previous CTVI methods.
Bland-Altman analysis for quantification of lobar ventilation
demonstrates negligible bias. Mean voxel-wise Spearman
correlations are moderate to good. DSC of functionally
thresholded lung regions are similar for all CTVI methods. These
results warrant further investigation of CT LVAS as a readily
available ventilation imaging tool in disease characterisation,
lung health assessment, and surgical and targeted treatment
planning. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical
Trials Registry (ANZCTR) registration number
ACTRN12612000775819, registered on 23/07/2012.
Gardner, Mark; Finnegan, Robert N; Dillon, Owen; Chin, Vicky; Reynolds, Tess; Keall, Paul J
Investigation of cardiac substructure automatic segmentation methods on synthetically generated 4D cone-beam CT images Journal Article
In: Med. Phys., vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 2224–2237, 2025.
@article{Gardner2025-ps,
title = {Investigation of cardiac substructure automatic segmentation methods on synthetically generated 4D cone-beam CT images},
author = {Mark Gardner and Robert N Finnegan and Owen Dillon and Vicky Chin and Tess Reynolds and Paul J Keall},
doi = {10.1002/mp.17596},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
urldate = {2025-04-01},
journal = {Med. Phys.},
volume = {52},
number = {4},
pages = {2224–2237},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: STereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation (STAR) is a
novel noninvasive method for treating arrythmias in which
external beam radiation is directed towards subregions of the
heart. Challenges for accurate STAR targeting include small
target volumes and relatively large patient motion, which can
lead to radiation related patient toxicities. 4D Cone-beam CT
(CBCT) images are used for stereotactic lung treatments to
account for respiration-related patient motion. 4D-CBCT imaging
could similarly be used to account for respiration-related
patient motion in STAR; however, the poor contrast of heart
tissue in CBCT makes identifying cardiac substructures in
4D-CBCT images challenging. If cardiac structures can be
identified in pre-treatment 4D-CBCT images, then the location of
the target volume can be more accurately identified for
different phases of the respiration cycle, leading to more
accurate targeting and a reduction in patient toxicities.
PURPOSE: The aim of this simulation study is to investigate the
accuracy of different cardiac substructure segmentation methods
for 4D-CBCT images. METHODS: Repeat 4D-CT scans from 13 lung
cancer patients were obtained from The Cancer Imaging Archive.
Synthetic 4D-CBCT images for each patient were simulated by
forward projecting and reconstructing each respiration phase of
a chosen ``testing'' 4D-CT scan. Eighteen cardiac structures
were segmented from each respiration phase image in the testing
4D-CT using the previously validated platipy toolkit. The
platipy segmentations from the testing 4D-CT were defined as the
ground truth segmentations for the synthetic 4D-CBCT images.
Five different 4D-CBCT cardiac segmentation methods were
investigated: 3D Rigid Alignment, 4D Rigid Alignment, Direct
CBCT Segmentation, Contour Transformation, and Synthetic CT
Segmentation methods. For all methods except the Direct CBCT
segmentation method, a separate 4D-CT (Planning CT) was used to
assist in generating 4D-CBCT segmentations. Segmentation
performance was measured using the Dice similarity coefficient
(DSC), Hausdorff distance (HD), mean surface distance (MSD), and
volume ratio (VR) metrics. RESULTS: The mean $±$ standard
deviation DSC for all cardiac substructures for the 3D Rigid
Alignment, 4D Rigid Alignment, Direct CBCT Segmentation, Contour
Transformation, and Synthetic CT Segmentation methods were 0.48
$±$ 0.29, 0.52 $±$ 0.29, 0.37 $±$ 0.32, 0.53 $±$ 0.29,
0.57 $±$ 0.28, respectively. Similarly, the HD values were
10.9 $±$ 3.6 , 9.9 $±$ 2.6 , 17.3 $±$ 5.3 , 9.9 $±$ 2.8
, 9.3 $±$ 3.0 mm, the MSD values were 2.9 $±$ 0.6 , 2.9
$±$ 0.6 , 6.3 $±$ 2.5 , 2.5 $±$ 0.6 , 2.4 $±$ 0.8 mm,
and the VR Values were 0.81 $±$ 0.12, 0.78 $±$ 0.14, 1.10
$±$ 0.47, 0.72 $±$ 0.15, 0.98 $±$ 0.44, respectively. Of
the five methods investigated the Synthetic CT segmentation
method generated the most accurate segmentations for all
calculated segmentation metrics. CONCLUSION: This simulation
study investigates the accuracy of different cardiac
substructure segmentation methods for 4D-CBCT images. Accurate
4D-CBCT cardiac segmentation will provide more accurate
information on the location of cardiac anatomy during STAR
treatments which can lead to safer and more effective STAR. As
the data and segmentation methods used in this study are all
open source, this study provides a useful benchmarking tool to
evaluate other CBCT cardiac segmentation methods.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
novel noninvasive method for treating arrythmias in which
external beam radiation is directed towards subregions of the
heart. Challenges for accurate STAR targeting include small
target volumes and relatively large patient motion, which can
lead to radiation related patient toxicities. 4D Cone-beam CT
(CBCT) images are used for stereotactic lung treatments to
account for respiration-related patient motion. 4D-CBCT imaging
could similarly be used to account for respiration-related
patient motion in STAR; however, the poor contrast of heart
tissue in CBCT makes identifying cardiac substructures in
4D-CBCT images challenging. If cardiac structures can be
identified in pre-treatment 4D-CBCT images, then the location of
the target volume can be more accurately identified for
different phases of the respiration cycle, leading to more
accurate targeting and a reduction in patient toxicities.
PURPOSE: The aim of this simulation study is to investigate the
accuracy of different cardiac substructure segmentation methods
for 4D-CBCT images. METHODS: Repeat 4D-CT scans from 13 lung
cancer patients were obtained from The Cancer Imaging Archive.
Synthetic 4D-CBCT images for each patient were simulated by
forward projecting and reconstructing each respiration phase of
a chosen “testing'' 4D-CT scan. Eighteen cardiac structures
were segmented from each respiration phase image in the testing
4D-CT using the previously validated platipy toolkit. The
platipy segmentations from the testing 4D-CT were defined as the
ground truth segmentations for the synthetic 4D-CBCT images.
Five different 4D-CBCT cardiac segmentation methods were
investigated: 3D Rigid Alignment, 4D Rigid Alignment, Direct
CBCT Segmentation, Contour Transformation, and Synthetic CT
Segmentation methods. For all methods except the Direct CBCT
segmentation method, a separate 4D-CT (Planning CT) was used to
assist in generating 4D-CBCT segmentations. Segmentation
performance was measured using the Dice similarity coefficient
(DSC), Hausdorff distance (HD), mean surface distance (MSD), and
volume ratio (VR) metrics. RESULTS: The mean $±$ standard
deviation DSC for all cardiac substructures for the 3D Rigid
Alignment, 4D Rigid Alignment, Direct CBCT Segmentation, Contour
Transformation, and Synthetic CT Segmentation methods were 0.48
$±$ 0.29, 0.52 $±$ 0.29, 0.37 $±$ 0.32, 0.53 $±$ 0.29,
0.57 $±$ 0.28, respectively. Similarly, the HD values were
10.9 $±$ 3.6 , 9.9 $±$ 2.6 , 17.3 $±$ 5.3 , 9.9 $±$ 2.8
, 9.3 $±$ 3.0 mm, the MSD values were 2.9 $±$ 0.6 , 2.9
$±$ 0.6 , 6.3 $±$ 2.5 , 2.5 $±$ 0.6 , 2.4 $±$ 0.8 mm,
and the VR Values were 0.81 $±$ 0.12, 0.78 $±$ 0.14, 1.10
$±$ 0.47, 0.72 $±$ 0.15, 0.98 $±$ 0.44, respectively. Of
the five methods investigated the Synthetic CT segmentation
method generated the most accurate segmentations for all
calculated segmentation metrics. CONCLUSION: This simulation
study investigates the accuracy of different cardiac
substructure segmentation methods for 4D-CBCT images. Accurate
4D-CBCT cardiac segmentation will provide more accurate
information on the location of cardiac anatomy during STAR
treatments which can lead to safer and more effective STAR. As
the data and segmentation methods used in this study are all
open source, this study provides a useful benchmarking tool to
evaluate other CBCT cardiac segmentation methods.
Gardner, Mark; Finnegan, Robert N.; Dillon, Owen; Chin, Vicky; Reynolds, Tess; Keall, Paul J.
Investigation of cardiac substructure automatic segmentation methods on synthetically generated 4D cone‐beam CT images Journal Article
In: Medical Physics, vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 2224–2237, 2025, ISSN: 2473-4209.
@article{Gardner2024b,
title = {Investigation of cardiac substructure automatic segmentation methods on synthetically generated 4D cone‐beam CT images},
author = {Mark Gardner and Robert N. Finnegan and Owen Dillon and Vicky Chin and Tess Reynolds and Paul J. Keall},
doi = {10.1002/mp.17596},
issn = {2473-4209},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-00},
journal = {Medical Physics},
volume = {52},
number = {4},
pages = {2224--2237},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {Abstract Background STereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation (STAR) is a novel noninvasive method for treating arrythmias in which external beam radiation is directed towards subregions of the heart. Challenges for accurate STAR targeting include small target volumes and relatively large patient motion, which can lead to radiation related patient toxicities. 4D Cone‐beam CT (CBCT) images are used for stereotactic lung treatments to account for respiration‐related patient motion. 4D‐CBCT imaging could similarly be used to account for respiration‐related patient motion in STAR; however, the poor contrast of heart tissue in CBCT makes identifying cardiac substructures in 4D‐CBCT images challenging. If cardiac structures can be identified in pre‐treatment 4D‐CBCT images, then the location of the target volume can be more accurately identified for different phases of the respiration cycle, leading to more accurate targeting and a reduction in patient toxicities. Purpose The aim of this simulation study is to investigate the accuracy of different cardiac substructure segmentation methods for 4D‐CBCT images. Methods Repeat 4D‐CT scans from 13 lung cancer patients were obtained from The Cancer Imaging Archive. Synthetic 4D‐CBCT images for each patient were simulated by forward projecting and reconstructing each respiration phase of a chosen “testing” 4D‐CT scan. Eighteen cardiac structures were segmented from each respiration phase image in the testing 4D‐CT using the previously validated platipy toolkit. The platipy segmentations from the testing 4D‐CT were defined as the ground truth segmentations for the synthetic 4D‐CBCT images. Five different 4D‐CBCT cardiac segmentation methods were investigated: 3D Rigid Alignment, 4D Rigid Alignment, Direct CBCT Segmentation, Contour Transformation, and Synthetic CT Segmentation methods. For all methods except the Direct CBCT segmentation method, a separate 4D‐CT (Planning CT) was used to assist in generating 4D‐CBCT segmentations. Segmentation performance was measured using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), Hausdorff distance (HD), mean surface distance (MSD), and volume ratio (VR) metrics. Results The mean ± standard deviation DSC for all cardiac substructures for the 3D Rigid Alignment, 4D Rigid Alignment, Direct CBCT Segmentation, Contour Transformation, and Synthetic CT Segmentation methods were 0.48 ± 0.29, 0.52 ± 0.29, 0.37 ± 0.32, 0.53 ± 0.29, 0.57 ± 0.28, respectively. Similarly, the HD values were 10.9 ± 3.6 , 9.9 ± 2.6 , 17.3 ± 5.3 , 9.9 ± 2.8 , 9.3 ± 3.0 mm, the MSD values were 2.9 ± 0.6 , 2.9 ± 0.6 , 6.3 ± 2.5 , 2.5 ± 0.6 , 2.4 ± 0.8 mm, and the VR Values were 0.81 ± 0.12, 0.78 ± 0.14, 1.10 ± 0.47, 0.72 ± 0.15, 0.98 ± 0.44, respectively. Of the five methods investigated the Synthetic CT segmentation method generated the most accurate segmentations for all calculated segmentation metrics. Conclusion This simulation study investigates the accuracy of different cardiac substructure segmentation methods for 4D‐CBCT images. Accurate 4D‐CBCT cardiac segmentation will provide more accurate information on the location of cardiac anatomy during STAR treatments which can lead to safer and more effective STAR. As the data and segmentation methods used in this study are all open source, this study provides a useful benchmarking tool to evaluate other CBCT cardiac segmentation methods. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hindmarsh, Jonathan; Crowe, Scott; Johnson, Julia; Sengupta, Chandrima; Walsh, Jemma; Dieterich, Sonja; Booth, Jeremy; Keall, Paul
A dosimetric comparison of helical tomotherapy treatment delivery with real-time adaption and no motion correction Journal Article
In: Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology, vol. 34, 2025, ISSN: 2405-6316.
BibTeX | Links:
@article{Hindmarsh2025,
title = {A dosimetric comparison of helical tomotherapy treatment delivery with real-time adaption and no motion correction},
author = {Jonathan Hindmarsh and Scott Crowe and Julia Johnson and Chandrima Sengupta and Jemma Walsh and Sonja Dieterich and Jeremy Booth and Paul Keall},
doi = {10.1016/j.phro.2025.100741},
issn = {2405-6316},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-00},
journal = {Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology},
volume = {34},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Sengupta, Chandrima; Nguyen, Doan Trang; Li, Yifan; Hewson, Emily; Ball, Helen; O’Brien, Ricky; Booth, Jeremy; Kipritidis, John; Eade, Thomas; Kneebone, Andrew; Hruby, George; Bromley, Regina; Greer, Peter; Martin, Jarad; Hunter, Perry; Wilton, Lee; Moodie, Trevor; Hayden, Amy; Turner, Sandra; Hardcastle, Nicholas; Siva, Shankar; Tai, Keen-Hun; Arumugam, Sankar; Sidhom, Mark; Poulsen, Per; Gebski, Val; Moore, Alisha; Keall, Paul
The TROG 15.01 stereotactic prostate adaptive radiotherapy utilizing kilovoltage intrafraction monitoring (SPARK) clinical trial database Journal Article
In: Med. Phys., vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 1941–1949, 2025.
@article{Sengupta2025-ek,
title = {The TROG 15.01 stereotactic prostate adaptive radiotherapy
utilizing kilovoltage intrafraction monitoring (SPARK)
clinical trial database},
author = {Chandrima Sengupta and Doan Trang Nguyen and Yifan Li and Emily Hewson and Helen Ball and Ricky O'Brien and Jeremy Booth and John Kipritidis and Thomas Eade and Andrew Kneebone and George Hruby and Regina Bromley and Peter Greer and Jarad Martin and Perry Hunter and Lee Wilton and Trevor Moodie and Amy Hayden and Sandra Turner and Nicholas Hardcastle and Shankar Siva and Keen-Hun Tai and Sankar Arumugam and Mark Sidhom and Per Poulsen and Val Gebski and Alisha Moore and Paul Keall},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-03-01},
journal = {Med. Phys.},
volume = {52},
number = {3},
pages = {1941–1949},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {PURPOSE: The US National Institutes of Health state that Sharing
of clinical trial data has great potential to accelerate
scientific progress and ultimately improve public health by
generating better evidence on the safety and effectiveness of
therapies for patients
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK285999/ accessed
2024-01-24.). Aligned with this initiative, the Trial Management
Committee of the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG)
15.01 Stereotactic Prostate Adaptive Radiotherapy utilizing
Kilovoltage intrafraction monitoring (KIM) (SPARK) clinical
trial supported the public sharing of the clinical trial data.
ACQUISITION AND VALIDATION METHODS: The data originate from the
TROG 15.01 SPARK clinical trial. The SPARK trial was a phase II
prospective multi-institutional clinical trial (NCT02397317).
The aim of the SPARK clinical trial was to measure the geometric
and dosimetric cancer targeting accuracy achieved with a
real-time image-guided radiotherapy technology named KIM for 48
prostate cancer patients treated in 5 treatment sessions. During
treatment, real-time tumor translational and rotational motion
were determined from x-ray images using the KIM technology. A
dose reconstruction method was used to evaluate the dose
delivered to the target and organs-at-risk. Patient-reported
outcomes and toxicity data were monitored up to 2 years after
the completion of the treatment. DATA FORMAT AND USAGE NOTES:
The dataset contains planning CT images, treatment plans,
structure sets, planned and motion-included dose-volume
histograms, intrafraction kilovoltage, and megavoltage
projection images, tumor translational and rotational motion
determined by KIM, tumor motion ground truth data, the linear
accelerator trajectory traces, and patient treatment outcomes.
The dataset is publicly hosted by the University of Sydney
eScholarship Repository at https://doi.org/10.25910/qg5d-6058.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS: The 3.6 Tb dataset, with approximately 1
million patient images, could be used for a variety of
applications, including the development of real-time
image-guided methods, adaptation strategies, tumor, and normal
tissue control modeling, and prostate-specific antigen kinetics.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
of clinical trial data has great potential to accelerate
scientific progress and ultimately improve public health by
generating better evidence on the safety and effectiveness of
therapies for patients
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK285999/ accessed
2024-01-24.). Aligned with this initiative, the Trial Management
Committee of the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG)
15.01 Stereotactic Prostate Adaptive Radiotherapy utilizing
Kilovoltage intrafraction monitoring (KIM) (SPARK) clinical
trial supported the public sharing of the clinical trial data.
ACQUISITION AND VALIDATION METHODS: The data originate from the
TROG 15.01 SPARK clinical trial. The SPARK trial was a phase II
prospective multi-institutional clinical trial (NCT02397317).
The aim of the SPARK clinical trial was to measure the geometric
and dosimetric cancer targeting accuracy achieved with a
real-time image-guided radiotherapy technology named KIM for 48
prostate cancer patients treated in 5 treatment sessions. During
treatment, real-time tumor translational and rotational motion
were determined from x-ray images using the KIM technology. A
dose reconstruction method was used to evaluate the dose
delivered to the target and organs-at-risk. Patient-reported
outcomes and toxicity data were monitored up to 2 years after
the completion of the treatment. DATA FORMAT AND USAGE NOTES:
The dataset contains planning CT images, treatment plans,
structure sets, planned and motion-included dose-volume
histograms, intrafraction kilovoltage, and megavoltage
projection images, tumor translational and rotational motion
determined by KIM, tumor motion ground truth data, the linear
accelerator trajectory traces, and patient treatment outcomes.
The dataset is publicly hosted by the University of Sydney
eScholarship Repository at https://doi.org/10.25910/qg5d-6058.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS: The 3.6 Tb dataset, with approximately 1
million patient images, could be used for a variety of
applications, including the development of real-time
image-guided methods, adaptation strategies, tumor, and normal
tissue control modeling, and prostate-specific antigen kinetics.
Lassen, Martin Lyngby; Kertész, Hunor; Rausch, Ivo; Panin, Vladimir; Conti, Maurizio; Zuehlsdorff, Sven; Cabello, Jorge; Bharkhada, Deepak; DeKemp, Robert; Kjaer, Andreas; Beyer, Thomas; Hasbak, Philip
Positron range correction helps enhance the image quality of cardiac 82Rb PET/CT Journal Article
In: J. Nucl. Med., vol. 66, no. 3, pp. 466–472, 2025.
@article{Lassen2025-uh,
title = {Positron range correction helps enhance the image quality of
cardiac 82Rb PET/CT},
author = {Martin Lyngby Lassen and Hunor Kertész and Ivo Rausch and Vladimir Panin and Maurizio Conti and Sven Zuehlsdorff and Jorge Cabello and Deepak Bharkhada and Robert DeKemp and Andreas Kjaer and Thomas Beyer and Philip Hasbak},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-03-01},
journal = {J. Nucl. Med.},
volume = {66},
number = {3},
pages = {466–472},
publisher = {Society of Nuclear Medicine},
abstract = {The image quality and quantitative accuracy of 82Rb myocardial
perfusion imaging (MPI) using PET is challenged by the extensive
positron range (PR) effects, with the PR of 82Rb being about 7
mm in soft tissues. This study explored the feasibility of
applying postacquisition PR correction (PRC) to routine 82Rb
PET/CT MPI acquisitions and assessed its impact on diagnostic
accuracy and image quality. Methods: We implemented a PRC method
adjusted to 82Rb into a vendor-provided reconstruction toolbox,
using tissue-specific corrections for soft tissue, bone, and
air/lungs. The PRC was evaluated in 2 cohorts: the first
comprised 25 healthy volunteers who underwent repeated 82Rb MPI
within 2 wk, and the second included 66 patients with known or
suspected coronary artery disease. We measured the
signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)
for the volunteer cohort. In the patient cohort, the impact of
PRC was evaluated as changes in the area under the receiver
operating characteristic curve (AUC), using fractional flow
reserve as the gold standard (values < 80% were considered
significantly reduced). We calculated AUCs for stress and
ischemic total perfusion deficits. Results: In the volunteer
cohort, PRC-based reconstructions (standard reconstruction [STD]
+ PRC) demonstrated significantly improved SNR and CNR compared
with STD, with median increases of 22% and 47% for SNR and
CNR, respectively (P < 0.05). For the patient cohort, comparable
AUCs were reported for STD- versus PRC-based reconstructions (stress total perfusion deficits, 0.84 vs. 0.83 [P = 0.49]; ischemic total perfusion deficits, 0.87 vs. 0.87 [P = 0.80]).
Conclusion: PRC significantly enhances SNR and CNR compared with
STD without affecting the diagnostic accuracy of the scans.
Given the significantly improved image quality, PRC may be
recommended for MPI using 82Rb PET/CT
clinical-routine-assessment interpretation of TPD.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
perfusion imaging (MPI) using PET is challenged by the extensive
positron range (PR) effects, with the PR of 82Rb being about 7
mm in soft tissues. This study explored the feasibility of
applying postacquisition PR correction (PRC) to routine 82Rb
PET/CT MPI acquisitions and assessed its impact on diagnostic
accuracy and image quality. Methods: We implemented a PRC method
adjusted to 82Rb into a vendor-provided reconstruction toolbox,
using tissue-specific corrections for soft tissue, bone, and
air/lungs. The PRC was evaluated in 2 cohorts: the first
comprised 25 healthy volunteers who underwent repeated 82Rb MPI
within 2 wk, and the second included 66 patients with known or
suspected coronary artery disease. We measured the
signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)
for the volunteer cohort. In the patient cohort, the impact of
PRC was evaluated as changes in the area under the receiver
operating characteristic curve (AUC), using fractional flow
reserve as the gold standard (values < 80% were considered
significantly reduced). We calculated AUCs for stress and
ischemic total perfusion deficits. Results: In the volunteer
cohort, PRC-based reconstructions (standard reconstruction [STD]
+ PRC) demonstrated significantly improved SNR and CNR compared
with STD, with median increases of 22% and 47% for SNR and
CNR, respectively (P < 0.05). For the patient cohort, comparable
AUCs were reported for STD- versus PRC-based reconstructions (stress total perfusion deficits, 0.84 vs. 0.83 [P = 0.49]; ischemic total perfusion deficits, 0.87 vs. 0.87 [P = 0.80]).
Conclusion: PRC significantly enhances SNR and CNR compared with
STD without affecting the diagnostic accuracy of the scans.
Given the significantly improved image quality, PRC may be
recommended for MPI using 82Rb PET/CT
clinical-routine-assessment interpretation of TPD.
Dillon, Owen; Lau, Benjamin; Vinod, Shalini K; Keall, Paul J; Reynolds, Tess; Sonke, Jan-Jakob; O’Brien, Ricky T
Real-time spatiotemporal optimization during imaging Journal Article
In: Commun Eng, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 61, 2025.
@article{Dillon2025-mb,
title = {Real-time spatiotemporal optimization during imaging},
author = {Owen Dillon and Benjamin Lau and Shalini K Vinod and Paul J Keall and Tess Reynolds and Jan-Jakob Sonke and Ricky T O'Brien},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-03-01},
journal = {Commun Eng},
volume = {4},
number = {1},
pages = {61},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {High quality imaging is required for high quality medical care,
especially in precision applications such as radiation therapy.
Patient motion during image acquisition reduces image quality
and is either accepted or dealt with retrospectively during
image reconstruction. Here we formalize a general approach in
which data acquisition is treated as a spatiotemporal
optimization problem to solve in real time so that the acquired
data has a specific structure that can be exploited during
reconstruction. We provide results of the first-in-world
clinical trial implementation of our spatiotemporal optimization
approach, applied to respiratory correlated 4D cone beam
computed tomography for lung cancer radiation therapy
(NCT04070586, ethics approval 2019/ETH09968). Performing
spatiotemporal optimization allowed us to maintain or improve
image quality relative to the current clinical standard while
reducing scan time by 63% and reducing scan radiation by 85%,
improving clinical throughput and reducing the risk of secondary
tumors. This result motivates application of the general
spatiotemporal optimization approach to other types of patient
motion such as cardiac signals and other modalities such as CT
and MRI.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
especially in precision applications such as radiation therapy.
Patient motion during image acquisition reduces image quality
and is either accepted or dealt with retrospectively during
image reconstruction. Here we formalize a general approach in
which data acquisition is treated as a spatiotemporal
optimization problem to solve in real time so that the acquired
data has a specific structure that can be exploited during
reconstruction. We provide results of the first-in-world
clinical trial implementation of our spatiotemporal optimization
approach, applied to respiratory correlated 4D cone beam
computed tomography for lung cancer radiation therapy
(NCT04070586, ethics approval 2019/ETH09968). Performing
spatiotemporal optimization allowed us to maintain or improve
image quality relative to the current clinical standard while
reducing scan time by 63% and reducing scan radiation by 85%,
improving clinical throughput and reducing the risk of secondary
tumors. This result motivates application of the general
spatiotemporal optimization approach to other types of patient
motion such as cardiac signals and other modalities such as CT
and MRI.
Sengupta, Chandrima; Nguyen, Doan Trang; Li, Yifan; Hewson, Emily; Ball, Helen; O’Brien, Ricky; Booth, Jeremy; Kipritidis, John; Eade, Thomas; Kneebone, Andrew; Hruby, George; Bromley, Regina; Greer, Peter; Martin, Jarad; Hunter, Perry; Wilton, Lee; Moodie, Trevor; Hayden, Amy; Turner, Sandra; Hardcastle, Nicholas; Siva, Shankar; Tai, Keen‐Hun; Arumugam, Sankar; Sidhom, Mark; Poulsen, Per; Gebski, Val; Moore, Alisha; Keall, Paul
The TROG 15.01 stereotactic prostate adaptive radiotherapy utilizing kilovoltage intrafraction monitoring (SPARK) clinical trial database Journal Article
In: Medical Physics, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 1941–1949, 2025, ISSN: 2473-4209.
@article{Sengupta2024,
title = {The TROG 15.01 stereotactic prostate adaptive radiotherapy utilizing kilovoltage intrafraction monitoring (SPARK) clinical trial database},
author = {Chandrima Sengupta and Doan Trang Nguyen and Yifan Li and Emily Hewson and Helen Ball and Ricky O'Brien and Jeremy Booth and John Kipritidis and Thomas Eade and Andrew Kneebone and George Hruby and Regina Bromley and Peter Greer and Jarad Martin and Perry Hunter and Lee Wilton and Trevor Moodie and Amy Hayden and Sandra Turner and Nicholas Hardcastle and Shankar Siva and Keen‐Hun Tai and Sankar Arumugam and Mark Sidhom and Per Poulsen and Val Gebski and Alisha Moore and Paul Keall},
doi = {10.1002/mp.17529},
issn = {2473-4209},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-03-00},
journal = {Medical Physics},
volume = {52},
number = {3},
pages = {1941--1949},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {Abstract Purpose The US National Institutes of Health state that Sharing of clinical trial data has great potential to accelerate scientific progress and ultimately improve public health by generating better evidence on the safety and effectiveness of therapies for patients (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK285999/ accessed 2024‐01‐24.). Aligned with this initiative, the Trial Management Committee of the Trans‐Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) 15.01 Stereotactic Prostate Adaptive Radiotherapy utilizing Kilovoltage intrafraction monitoring (KIM) (SPARK) clinical trial supported the public sharing of the clinical trial data. Acquisition and Validation Methods The data originate from the TROG 15.01 SPARK clinical trial. The SPARK trial was a phase II prospective multi‐institutional clinical trial (NCT02397317). The aim of the SPARK clinical trial was to measure the geometric and dosimetric cancer targeting accuracy achieved with a real‐time image‐guided radiotherapy technology named KIM for 48 prostate cancer patients treated in 5 treatment sessions. During treatment, real‐time tumor translational and rotational motion were determined from x‐ray images using the KIM technology. A dose reconstruction method was used to evaluate the dose delivered to the target and organs‐at‐risk. Patient‐reported outcomes and toxicity data were monitored up to 2 years after the completion of the treatment. Data Format and Usage Notes The dataset contains planning CT images, treatment plans, structure sets, planned and motion‐included dose‐volume histograms, intrafraction kilovoltage, and megavoltage projection images, tumor translational and rotational motion determined by KIM, tumor motion ground truth data, the linear accelerator trajectory traces, and patient treatment outcomes. The dataset is publicly hosted by the University of Sydney eScholarship Repository at https://doi.org/10.25910/qg5d‐6058 . Potential Applications The 3.6 Tb dataset, with approximately 1 million patient images, could be used for a variety of applications, including the development of real‐time image‐guided methods, adaptation strategies, tumor, and normal tissue control modeling, and prostate‐specific antigen kinetics. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Lassen, Martin Lyngby; Kertész, Hunor; Rausch, Ivo; Panin, Vladimir; Conti, Maurizio; Zuehlsdorff, Sven; Cabello, Jorge; Bharkhada, Deepak; DeKemp, Robert; Kjaer, Andreas; Beyer, Thomas; Hasbak, Philip
Positron Range Correction Helps Enhance the Image Quality of Cardiac82Rb PET/CT Journal Article
In: J Nucl Med, vol. 66, no. 3, pp. 466–472, 2025, ISSN: 2159-662X.
BibTeX | Links:
@article{Lassen2025,
title = {Positron Range Correction Helps Enhance the Image Quality of Cardiac^{82}Rb PET/CT},
author = {Martin Lyngby Lassen and Hunor Kertész and Ivo Rausch and Vladimir Panin and Maurizio Conti and Sven Zuehlsdorff and Jorge Cabello and Deepak Bharkhada and Robert DeKemp and Andreas Kjaer and Thomas Beyer and Philip Hasbak},
doi = {10.2967/jnumed.124.267855},
issn = {2159-662X},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-03-00},
journal = {J Nucl Med},
volume = {66},
number = {3},
pages = {466--472},
publisher = {Society of Nuclear Medicine},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Wilding-McBride, Daryl; Lim, Jeremy; Byrne, Hilary; O’Brien, Ricky
CT ventilation images produced by a 3D neural network show improvement over the Jacobian and HU DIR-based methods to predict quantized lung function Journal Article
In: Med. Phys., vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 889–898, 2025.
@article{Wilding-McBride2025-sc,
title = {CT ventilation images produced by a 3D neural network show
improvement over the Jacobian and HU DIR-based methods to
predict quantized lung function},
author = {Daryl Wilding-McBride and Jeremy Lim and Hilary Byrne and Ricky O'Brien},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-02-01},
journal = {Med. Phys.},
volume = {52},
number = {2},
pages = {889–898},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced pneumonitis affects up to 33% of
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, with fatal
pneumonitis occurring in 2% of patients. Pneumonitis risk is
related to the dose and volume of lung irradiated. Clinical
radiotherapy plans assume lungs are functionally homogeneous,
but evidence suggests that avoidance of high-functioning lung
during radiotherapy can reduce the risk of radiation-induced
pneumonitis. Radiotherapy avoidance structures can be
constructed based on high-function regions indicated in a
ventilation map, which can be produced from CT images. PURPOSE:
Existing methods of deriving such a CT ventilation image (CTVI)
require the use of deformable image registration (DIR) of
peak-inhale and -exhale CT images, which is susceptible to
inaccuracy for small or low-intensity regions, and sensitive to
image artefacts. To overcome these problems, we use a neural
network to predict a ventilation map from breath-hold CT (BHCT).
METHODS: We used the nnU-Net pipeline to train five-fold
cross-validated ensemble models to predict a ventilation map
(CTVInnU-Net). The training data were comprised of registered
BHCT and Galligas PET images from 20 patients. Three training
sets were created to ensure performance was averaged over
different test patients. For each set, images from two randomly
selected test patients were set aside, and models were trained
on the remaining images. The ground truth was established by
quantizing the Galligas PET images, assigning each voxel a label
of high-function (>70th percentile of intensity),
medium-function (between 30th and 70th percentile), or
low-function (<30th percentile). For comparison, we created a
CTVI with a 2D U-Net (CTVInnU-Net-2D), and with the Jacobian
(CTVIJac) and Hounsfield Units (CTVIHU) DIR-based methods which
we quantized and labeled in the same way. The Dice similarity
coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff Distance 95th percentile (HD95)
of each CTVI with the ground truth were measured separately for
each lung function subregion. RESULTS: CTVInnU-Net had the
highest similarity to the quantized Galligas PET with a mean
(range) DSC over all three categories of lung function at 0.68
(0.56 to 0.82), compared with 0.64 (0.47 to 0.75) for
CTVInnU-Net-2D, 0.60 (0.38 to 0.73) for CTVIJac, and 0.56 (0.30
to 0.75) for CTVIHU. CTVInnU-Net had the equal-lowest spatial
distance to the quantized Galligas PET averaged over the three
categories, with HD95 of 22 mm (9 to 64 mm), compared with 23 mm
(9 to 72 mm) for CTVInnU-Net-2D, 22 mm (12 to 63 mm) for
CTVIJac, and 26 mm (12 to 58 mm) for CTVIHU. CONCLUSION: Our 3D
neural network produces a quantized CTVI with higher similarity
to the ground truth than the 2D U-Net and DIR-based Jacobian and
HU methods. As it produces a quantized CTVI directly,
CTVInnU-Net avoids the need for thresholding to identify
high-function lung regions. With faster evaluation and improved
accuracy, neural networks show promise for the clinical
implementation of functional lung avoidance.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, with fatal
pneumonitis occurring in 2% of patients. Pneumonitis risk is
related to the dose and volume of lung irradiated. Clinical
radiotherapy plans assume lungs are functionally homogeneous,
but evidence suggests that avoidance of high-functioning lung
during radiotherapy can reduce the risk of radiation-induced
pneumonitis. Radiotherapy avoidance structures can be
constructed based on high-function regions indicated in a
ventilation map, which can be produced from CT images. PURPOSE:
Existing methods of deriving such a CT ventilation image (CTVI)
require the use of deformable image registration (DIR) of
peak-inhale and -exhale CT images, which is susceptible to
inaccuracy for small or low-intensity regions, and sensitive to
image artefacts. To overcome these problems, we use a neural
network to predict a ventilation map from breath-hold CT (BHCT).
METHODS: We used the nnU-Net pipeline to train five-fold
cross-validated ensemble models to predict a ventilation map
(CTVInnU-Net). The training data were comprised of registered
BHCT and Galligas PET images from 20 patients. Three training
sets were created to ensure performance was averaged over
different test patients. For each set, images from two randomly
selected test patients were set aside, and models were trained
on the remaining images. The ground truth was established by
quantizing the Galligas PET images, assigning each voxel a label
of high-function (>70th percentile of intensity),
medium-function (between 30th and 70th percentile), or
low-function (<30th percentile). For comparison, we created a
CTVI with a 2D U-Net (CTVInnU-Net-2D), and with the Jacobian
(CTVIJac) and Hounsfield Units (CTVIHU) DIR-based methods which
we quantized and labeled in the same way. The Dice similarity
coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff Distance 95th percentile (HD95)
of each CTVI with the ground truth were measured separately for
each lung function subregion. RESULTS: CTVInnU-Net had the
highest similarity to the quantized Galligas PET with a mean
(range) DSC over all three categories of lung function at 0.68
(0.56 to 0.82), compared with 0.64 (0.47 to 0.75) for
CTVInnU-Net-2D, 0.60 (0.38 to 0.73) for CTVIJac, and 0.56 (0.30
to 0.75) for CTVIHU. CTVInnU-Net had the equal-lowest spatial
distance to the quantized Galligas PET averaged over the three
categories, with HD95 of 22 mm (9 to 64 mm), compared with 23 mm
(9 to 72 mm) for CTVInnU-Net-2D, 22 mm (12 to 63 mm) for
CTVIJac, and 26 mm (12 to 58 mm) for CTVIHU. CONCLUSION: Our 3D
neural network produces a quantized CTVI with higher similarity
to the ground truth than the 2D U-Net and DIR-based Jacobian and
HU methods. As it produces a quantized CTVI directly,
CTVInnU-Net avoids the need for thresholding to identify
high-function lung regions. With faster evaluation and improved
accuracy, neural networks show promise for the clinical
implementation of functional lung avoidance.
Hood, Sean; Newall, Matthew; Butler, Phil; O’Brien, Ricky; Petasecca, Marco; Dillon, Owen; Rosenfeld, Anatoly; Hardcastle, Nicholas; Jackson, Michael; Metcalfe, Peter; Alnaghy, Saree
First linac-mounted photon counting detector for image guided radiotherapy: Planar image quality characterization Journal Article
In: Med. Phys., vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 1159–1171, 2025.
@article{Hood2025-va,
title = {First linac-mounted photon counting detector for image guided
radiotherapy: Planar image quality characterization},
author = {Sean Hood and Matthew Newall and Phil Butler and Ricky O'Brien and Marco Petasecca and Owen Dillon and Anatoly Rosenfeld and Nicholas Hardcastle and Michael Jackson and Peter Metcalfe and Saree Alnaghy},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-02-01},
journal = {Med. Phys.},
volume = {52},
number = {2},
pages = {1159–1171},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) with cone-beam
computed tomography (CBCT) is limited by the sub-optimal
soft-tissue contrast and spatial resolution of
energy-integrating flat panel detectors (FPDs) which produce
quasi-quantitative CT numbers. Spectral CT with high resolution
photon-counting detectors (PCDs) could improve tumor delineation
by enhancing the soft-tissue contrast, spatial resolution,
dose-efficiency, and CT number accuracy. PURPOSE: This study
presents the first linac-mounted PCD. On the journey to
developing spectral cone-beam CT for IGRT, the planar image
quality of a linac-mounted PCD is first fundamentally
characterized and compared to an FPD in terms of the 2D spatial
resolution, noise, and contrast. METHODS: A Medipix3RX-based PCD
was mounted to the kV FPD of an x-ray volume imaging (XVI)
system on an Elekta linac and the PCD acquisition was
synchronized with the pulsed kV source. The energy calibration
of the Medipix3RX was determined with various radioisotope gamma
emissions up to 60 keV. To compare the 2D spatial resolution and
noise between the PCD and FPD, the pre-sampling modulation
transfer function (MTF) and normalized noise power spectrum
(NPS) were measured using an RQA5 spectrum and a fluoroscopy
phantom was imaged to determine the limiting resolution of line
pairs. Spectral planar images of phantom inserts containing two
different concentrations of calcium (60 and 240 mg/cc) and
iodine (5 and 15 mg/cc) were optimally energy weighted to
maximize the contrast using tube voltages of 60, 80, 100, and
120 kV. To account for drifts in the sensor temperature, the PCD
was dynamically translated in and out of the insert shadow
during acquisitions to obtain flat field corrections per frame.
The raw contrast of the resultant planar images was compared to
the energy-integrating FPD. RESULTS: The energy calibration of
the Medipix3RX was observed to be linear up to 60 keV. The
limiting resolution observed on the fluoroscopy phantom was 2
lp/mm for the FPD and 5 lp/mm for the PCD. The pre-sampling MTF
was higher across all frequencies comparing the PCD to the FPD.
The normalized NPS of the PCD did not vary with frequency,
whereas the spectrum for the FPD decreased monotonically and was
lower than the PCD noise power across most of the spatial
frequency range studied due to optical light spreading. Optimal
energy weights were applied to the dynamically acquired PCD
images and the raw contrast of the 60 mg/cc calcium insert
increased by factors of 1.12 $±$ 0.09 $1.12± 0.09$ and 1.52
$±$ 0.22 $1.52± 0.22$ at 60 and 120 kV respectively compared
to the FPD. CONCLUSIONS: A Medipix3RX-based PCD was successfully
integrated with the kilovoltage imaging system on an Elekta
linac. The initial planar image quality characterization
indicated improvements in the MTF and energy-weighted contrast
compared to the FPD. Future work will focus on obtaining
linac-mounted spectral CBCT images with a translate-rotate
geometry, however this initial study indicates that variations
in the PCD sensor response during acquisitions must be addressed
to realise the full potential of linac-mounted spectral CBCT.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
computed tomography (CBCT) is limited by the sub-optimal
soft-tissue contrast and spatial resolution of
energy-integrating flat panel detectors (FPDs) which produce
quasi-quantitative CT numbers. Spectral CT with high resolution
photon-counting detectors (PCDs) could improve tumor delineation
by enhancing the soft-tissue contrast, spatial resolution,
dose-efficiency, and CT number accuracy. PURPOSE: This study
presents the first linac-mounted PCD. On the journey to
developing spectral cone-beam CT for IGRT, the planar image
quality of a linac-mounted PCD is first fundamentally
characterized and compared to an FPD in terms of the 2D spatial
resolution, noise, and contrast. METHODS: A Medipix3RX-based PCD
was mounted to the kV FPD of an x-ray volume imaging (XVI)
system on an Elekta linac and the PCD acquisition was
synchronized with the pulsed kV source. The energy calibration
of the Medipix3RX was determined with various radioisotope gamma
emissions up to 60 keV. To compare the 2D spatial resolution and
noise between the PCD and FPD, the pre-sampling modulation
transfer function (MTF) and normalized noise power spectrum
(NPS) were measured using an RQA5 spectrum and a fluoroscopy
phantom was imaged to determine the limiting resolution of line
pairs. Spectral planar images of phantom inserts containing two
different concentrations of calcium (60 and 240 mg/cc) and
iodine (5 and 15 mg/cc) were optimally energy weighted to
maximize the contrast using tube voltages of 60, 80, 100, and
120 kV. To account for drifts in the sensor temperature, the PCD
was dynamically translated in and out of the insert shadow
during acquisitions to obtain flat field corrections per frame.
The raw contrast of the resultant planar images was compared to
the energy-integrating FPD. RESULTS: The energy calibration of
the Medipix3RX was observed to be linear up to 60 keV. The
limiting resolution observed on the fluoroscopy phantom was 2
lp/mm for the FPD and 5 lp/mm for the PCD. The pre-sampling MTF
was higher across all frequencies comparing the PCD to the FPD.
The normalized NPS of the PCD did not vary with frequency,
whereas the spectrum for the FPD decreased monotonically and was
lower than the PCD noise power across most of the spatial
frequency range studied due to optical light spreading. Optimal
energy weights were applied to the dynamically acquired PCD
images and the raw contrast of the 60 mg/cc calcium insert
increased by factors of 1.12 $±$ 0.09 $1.12± 0.09$ and 1.52
$±$ 0.22 $1.52± 0.22$ at 60 and 120 kV respectively compared
to the FPD. CONCLUSIONS: A Medipix3RX-based PCD was successfully
integrated with the kilovoltage imaging system on an Elekta
linac. The initial planar image quality characterization
indicated improvements in the MTF and energy-weighted contrast
compared to the FPD. Future work will focus on obtaining
linac-mounted spectral CBCT images with a translate-rotate
geometry, however this initial study indicates that variations
in the PCD sensor response during acquisitions must be addressed
to realise the full potential of linac-mounted spectral CBCT.
Hood, Sean; Newall, Matthew; Butler, Phil; O’Brien, Ricky; Petasecca, Marco; Dillon, Owen; Rosenfeld, Anatoly; Hardcastle, Nicholas; Jackson, Michael; Metcalfe, Peter; Alnaghy, Saree
First linac‐mounted photon counting detector for image guided radiotherapy: Planar image quality characterization Journal Article
In: Medical Physics, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 1159–1171, 2025, ISSN: 2473-4209.
@article{Hood2024b,
title = {First linac‐mounted photon counting detector for image guided radiotherapy: Planar image quality characterization},
author = {Sean Hood and Matthew Newall and Phil Butler and Ricky O'Brien and Marco Petasecca and Owen Dillon and Anatoly Rosenfeld and Nicholas Hardcastle and Michael Jackson and Peter Metcalfe and Saree Alnaghy},
doi = {10.1002/mp.17540},
issn = {2473-4209},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-02-00},
journal = {Medical Physics},
volume = {52},
number = {2},
pages = {1159--1171},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {Abstract Background Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) with cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) is limited by the sub‐optimal soft‐tissue contrast and spatial resolution of energy‐integrating flat panel detectors (FPDs) which produce quasi‐quantitative CT numbers. Spectral CT with high resolution photon‐counting detectors (PCDs) could improve tumor delineation by enhancing the soft‐tissue contrast, spatial resolution, dose‐efficiency, and CT number accuracy. Purpose This study presents the first linac‐mounted PCD. On the journey to developing spectral cone‐beam CT for IGRT, the planar image quality of a linac‐mounted PCD is first fundamentally characterized and compared to an FPD in terms of the 2D spatial resolution, noise, and contrast. Methods A Medipix3RX‐based PCD was mounted to the kV FPD of an x‐ray volume imaging (XVI) system on an Elekta linac and the PCD acquisition was synchronized with the pulsed kV source. The energy calibration of the Medipix3RX was determined with various radioisotope gamma emissions up to 60 keV. To compare the 2D spatial resolution and noise between the PCD and FPD, the pre‐sampling modulation transfer function (MTF) and normalized noise power spectrum (NPS) were measured using an RQA5 spectrum and a fluoroscopy phantom was imaged to determine the limiting resolution of line pairs. Spectral planar images of phantom inserts containing two different concentrations of calcium (60 and 240 mg/cc) and iodine (5 and 15 mg/cc) were optimally energy weighted to maximize the contrast using tube voltages of 60, 80, 100, and 120 kV. To account for drifts in the sensor temperature, the PCD was dynamically translated in and out of the insert shadow during acquisitions to obtain flat field corrections per frame. The raw contrast of the resultant planar images was compared to the energy‐integrating FPD. Results The energy calibration of the Medipix3RX was observed to be linear up to 60 keV. The limiting resolution observed on the fluoroscopy phantom was 2 lp/mm for the FPD and 5 lp/mm for the PCD. The pre‐sampling MTF was higher across all frequencies comparing the PCD to the FPD. The normalized NPS of the PCD did not vary with frequency, whereas the spectrum for the FPD decreased monotonically and was lower than the PCD noise power across most of the spatial frequency range studied due to optical light spreading. Optimal energy weights were applied to the dynamically acquired PCD images and the raw contrast of the 60 mg/cc calcium insert increased by factors of and at 60 and 120 kV respectively compared to the FPD. Conclusions A Medipix3RX‐based PCD was successfully integrated with the kilovoltage imaging system on an Elekta linac. The initial planar image quality characterization indicated improvements in the MTF and energy‐weighted contrast compared to the FPD. Future work will focus on obtaining linac‐mounted spectral CBCT images with a translate‐rotate geometry, however this initial study indicates that variations in the PCD sensor response during acquisitions must be addressed to realise the full potential of linac‐mounted spectral CBCT. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Wilding‐McBride, Daryl; Lim, Jeremy; Byrne, Hilary; O’Brien, Ricky
CT ventilation images produced by a 3D neural network show improvement over the Jacobian and HU DIR‐based methods to predict quantized lung function Journal Article
In: Medical Physics, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 889–898, 2025, ISSN: 2473-4209.
@article{Wilding‐McBride2024,
title = {CT ventilation images produced by a 3D neural network show improvement over the Jacobian and HU DIR‐based methods to predict quantized lung function},
author = {Daryl Wilding‐McBride and Jeremy Lim and Hilary Byrne and Ricky O'Brien},
doi = {10.1002/mp.17532},
issn = {2473-4209},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-02-00},
journal = {Medical Physics},
volume = {52},
number = {2},
pages = {889--898},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {Abstract Background Radiation‐induced pneumonitis affects up to 33% of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, with fatal pneumonitis occurring in 2% of patients. Pneumonitis risk is related to the dose and volume of lung irradiated. Clinical radiotherapy plans assume lungs are functionally homogeneous, but evidence suggests that avoidance of high‐functioning lung during radiotherapy can reduce the risk of radiation‐induced pneumonitis. Radiotherapy avoidance structures can be constructed based on high‐function regions indicated in a ventilation map, which can be produced from CT images. Purpose Existing methods of deriving such a CT ventilation image (CTVI) require the use of deformable image registration (DIR) of peak‐inhale and ‐exhale CT images, which is susceptible to inaccuracy for small or low‐intensity regions, and sensitive to image artefacts. To overcome these problems, we use a neural network to predict a ventilation map from breath‐hold CT (BHCT). Methods We used the nnU‐Net pipeline to train five‐fold cross‐validated ensemble models to predict a ventilation map (CTVInnU‐Net ). The training data were comprised of registered BHCT and Galligas PET images from 20 patients. Three training sets were created to ensure performance was averaged over different test patients. For each set, images from two randomly selected test patients were set aside, and models were trained on the remaining images. The ground truth was established by quantizing the Galligas PET images, assigning each voxel a label of high‐function (>70th percentile of intensity), medium‐function (between 30th and 70th percentile), or low‐function (<30th percentile). For comparison, we created a CTVI with a 2D U‐Net (CTVInnU‐Net‐2D ), and with the Jacobian (CTVIJac ) and Hounsfield Units (CTVIHU ) DIR‐based methods which we quantized and labeled in the same way. The Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff Distance 95th percentile (HD95) of each CTVI with the ground truth were measured separately for each lung function subregion. Results CTVInnU‐Net had the highest similarity to the quantized Galligas PET with a mean (range) DSC over all three categories of lung function at 0.68 (0.56 to 0.82), compared with 0.64 (0.47 to 0.75) for CTVInnU‐Net‐2D , 0.60 (0.38 to 0.73) for CTVIJac , and 0.56 (0.30 to 0.75) for CTVIHU . CTVInnU‐Net had the equal‐lowest spatial distance to the quantized Galligas PET averaged over the three categories, with HD95 of 22 mm (9 to 64 mm), compared with 23 mm (9 to 72 mm) for CTVInnU‐Net‐2D , 22 mm (12 to 63 mm) for CTVIJac , and 26 mm (12 to 58 mm) for CTVIHU . Conclusion Our 3D neural network produces a quantized CTVI with higher similarity to the ground truth than the 2D U‐Net and DIR‐based Jacobian and HU methods. As it produces a quantized CTVI directly, CTVInnU‐Net avoids the need for thresholding to identify high‐function lung regions. With faster evaluation and improved accuracy, neural networks show promise for the clinical implementation of functional lung avoidance. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hood, Sean; Newall, Matthew; Butler, Phil; O’Brien, Ricky; Petasecca, Marco; Dillon, Owen; Rosenfeld, Anatoly; Hardcastle, Nicholas; Jackson, Michael; Metcalfe, Peter; Alnaghy, Saree
First linac‐mounted photon counting detector for image guided radiotherapy: Planar image quality characterization Journal Article
In: Medical Physics, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 1159–1171, 2025, ISSN: 2473-4209.
@article{Hood2024,
title = {First linac‐mounted photon counting detector for image guided radiotherapy: Planar image quality characterization},
author = {Sean Hood and Matthew Newall and Phil Butler and Ricky O'Brien and Marco Petasecca and Owen Dillon and Anatoly Rosenfeld and Nicholas Hardcastle and Michael Jackson and Peter Metcalfe and Saree Alnaghy},
doi = {10.1002/mp.17540},
issn = {2473-4209},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-02-00},
journal = {Medical Physics},
volume = {52},
number = {2},
pages = {1159--1171},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {Abstract Background Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) with cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) is limited by the sub‐optimal soft‐tissue contrast and spatial resolution of energy‐integrating flat panel detectors (FPDs) which produce quasi‐quantitative CT numbers. Spectral CT with high resolution photon‐counting detectors (PCDs) could improve tumor delineation by enhancing the soft‐tissue contrast, spatial resolution, dose‐efficiency, and CT number accuracy. Purpose This study presents the first linac‐mounted PCD. On the journey to developing spectral cone‐beam CT for IGRT, the planar image quality of a linac‐mounted PCD is first fundamentally characterized and compared to an FPD in terms of the 2D spatial resolution, noise, and contrast. Methods A Medipix3RX‐based PCD was mounted to the kV FPD of an x‐ray volume imaging (XVI) system on an Elekta linac and the PCD acquisition was synchronized with the pulsed kV source. The energy calibration of the Medipix3RX was determined with various radioisotope gamma emissions up to 60 keV. To compare the 2D spatial resolution and noise between the PCD and FPD, the pre‐sampling modulation transfer function (MTF) and normalized noise power spectrum (NPS) were measured using an RQA5 spectrum and a fluoroscopy phantom was imaged to determine the limiting resolution of line pairs. Spectral planar images of phantom inserts containing two different concentrations of calcium (60 and 240 mg/cc) and iodine (5 and 15 mg/cc) were optimally energy weighted to maximize the contrast using tube voltages of 60, 80, 100, and 120 kV. To account for drifts in the sensor temperature, the PCD was dynamically translated in and out of the insert shadow during acquisitions to obtain flat field corrections per frame. The raw contrast of the resultant planar images was compared to the energy‐integrating FPD. Results The energy calibration of the Medipix3RX was observed to be linear up to 60 keV. The limiting resolution observed on the fluoroscopy phantom was 2 lp/mm for the FPD and 5 lp/mm for the PCD. The pre‐sampling MTF was higher across all frequencies comparing the PCD to the FPD. The normalized NPS of the PCD did not vary with frequency, whereas the spectrum for the FPD decreased monotonically and was lower than the PCD noise power across most of the spatial frequency range studied due to optical light spreading. Optimal energy weights were applied to the dynamically acquired PCD images and the raw contrast of the 60 mg/cc calcium insert increased by factors of and at 60 and 120 kV respectively compared to the FPD. Conclusions A Medipix3RX‐based PCD was successfully integrated with the kilovoltage imaging system on an Elekta linac. The initial planar image quality characterization indicated improvements in the MTF and energy‐weighted contrast compared to the FPD. Future work will focus on obtaining linac‐mounted spectral CBCT images with a translate‐rotate geometry, however this initial study indicates that variations in the PCD sensor response during acquisitions must be addressed to realise the full potential of linac‐mounted spectral CBCT. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hewson, Emily A; Dillon, Owen; Poulsen, Per R; Booth, Jeremy T; Keall, Paul J
Six-degrees-of-freedom pelvic bone monitoring on 2D kV intrafraction images to enable multi-target tracking for locally advanced prostate cancer Journal Article
In: Med. Phys., vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 77–87, 2025.
@article{Hewson2025-jj,
title = {Six-degrees-of-freedom pelvic bone monitoring on 2D kV
intrafraction images to enable multi-target tracking for locally
advanced prostate cancer},
author = {Emily A Hewson and Owen Dillon and Per R Poulsen and Jeremy T Booth and Paul J Keall},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Med. Phys.},
volume = {52},
number = {1},
pages = {77–87},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Patients with locally advanced prostate cancer
require the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes to be irradiated
simultaneously during radiation therapy treatment. However,
relative motion between treatment targets decreases dosimetric
conformity. Current treatment methods mitigate this error by
having large treatment margins and often prioritize the prostate
at patient setup at the cost of lymph node coverage. PURPOSE:
Treatment accuracy can be improved through real-time
multi-target adaptation which requires simultaneous motion
monitoring of both the prostate and lymph node targets. This
study developed and evaluated an intrafraction pelvic bone
motion monitoring method as a surrogate for pelvic lymph node
displacement to be combined with prostate motion monitoring to
enable multi-target six-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) tracking using
2D kV projections acquired during treatment. MATERIAL AND
METHODS: A method to monitor pelvic bone translation and
rotation was developed and retrospectively applied to images
from 20 patients treated in the TROG 15.01 Stereotactic Prostate
Ablative Radiotherapy with Kilovoltage Intrafraction Monitoring
(KIM) trial. The pelvic motion monitoring method performed
template matching to calculate the 6DoF position of the pelvis
from 2D kV images. The method first generated a library of
digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) for a range of
imaging angles and pelvic rotations. The normalized 2D
cross-correlations were then calculated for each incoming kV
image and a subset of DRRs and the DRR with the maximum
correlation coefficient was used to estimate the pelvis
translation and rotation. Translation of the pelvis in the
unresolved direction was calculated using a 3D Gaussian
probability estimation method. Prostate motion was measured
using the KIM marker tracking method. The pelvic motion
monitoring method was compared to the ground truth obtained from
a 6DoF rigid registration of the CBCT and CT. RESULTS: The
geometric errors of the pelvic motion monitoring method
demonstrated sub-mm and sub-degree accuracy and precision in the
translational directions ( T LR
$T_mathrmLR$ , T SI
$T_mathrmSI$ , T AP
$T_mathrmAP$ ) and rotational directions (
R LR $R_mathrmLR$ , R SI
$R_mathrmSI$ , R AP
$R_mathrmAP$ ). The 3D relative
displacement between the prostate and pelvic bones exceeded 2,
3, 5, and 7 mm for approximately 66%, 44%, 12%, and 7% of
the images. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate intrafraction pelvic bone
motion monitoring in 6DoF was demonstrated on 2D kV images,
providing a necessary tool for real-time multi-target
motion-adapted treatment.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
require the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes to be irradiated
simultaneously during radiation therapy treatment. However,
relative motion between treatment targets decreases dosimetric
conformity. Current treatment methods mitigate this error by
having large treatment margins and often prioritize the prostate
at patient setup at the cost of lymph node coverage. PURPOSE:
Treatment accuracy can be improved through real-time
multi-target adaptation which requires simultaneous motion
monitoring of both the prostate and lymph node targets. This
study developed and evaluated an intrafraction pelvic bone
motion monitoring method as a surrogate for pelvic lymph node
displacement to be combined with prostate motion monitoring to
enable multi-target six-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) tracking using
2D kV projections acquired during treatment. MATERIAL AND
METHODS: A method to monitor pelvic bone translation and
rotation was developed and retrospectively applied to images
from 20 patients treated in the TROG 15.01 Stereotactic Prostate
Ablative Radiotherapy with Kilovoltage Intrafraction Monitoring
(KIM) trial. The pelvic motion monitoring method performed
template matching to calculate the 6DoF position of the pelvis
from 2D kV images. The method first generated a library of
digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) for a range of
imaging angles and pelvic rotations. The normalized 2D
cross-correlations were then calculated for each incoming kV
image and a subset of DRRs and the DRR with the maximum
correlation coefficient was used to estimate the pelvis
translation and rotation. Translation of the pelvis in the
unresolved direction was calculated using a 3D Gaussian
probability estimation method. Prostate motion was measured
using the KIM marker tracking method. The pelvic motion
monitoring method was compared to the ground truth obtained from
a 6DoF rigid registration of the CBCT and CT. RESULTS: The
geometric errors of the pelvic motion monitoring method
demonstrated sub-mm and sub-degree accuracy and precision in the
translational directions ( T LR
$T_mathrmLR$ , T SI
$T_mathrmSI$ , T AP
$T_mathrmAP$ ) and rotational directions (
R LR $R_mathrmLR$ , R SI
$R_mathrmSI$ , R AP
$R_mathrmAP$ ). The 3D relative
displacement between the prostate and pelvic bones exceeded 2,
3, 5, and 7 mm for approximately 66%, 44%, 12%, and 7% of
the images. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate intrafraction pelvic bone
motion monitoring in 6DoF was demonstrated on 2D kV images,
providing a necessary tool for real-time multi-target
motion-adapted treatment.
Akwo, J D; Trieu, P D Yun; Barron, M L; Reynolds, T; Lewis, S J
Does access to prior mammograms improve the performance of radiographers in interpreting screening mammograms? Journal Article
In: Radiography (Lond.), vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 247–253, 2025.
@article{Akwo2025-ew,
title = {Does access to prior mammograms improve the performance of
radiographers in interpreting screening mammograms?},
author = {J D Akwo and P D Yun Trieu and M L Barron and T Reynolds and S J Lewis},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Radiography (Lond.)},
volume = {31},
number = {1},
pages = {247–253},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The impact of previous screening mammograms on
radiographers' performance in mammography interpretation is
unknown. This study assesses the impact that previous screening
mammograms has on radiographers' interpretation of mammograms.
METHODS: Thirteen Australian radiographers working for the
national breast screening service independently interpreted a
mammography test-set containing mammograms of 28 women based on
the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists'
classification. Twelve radiographers completed the ``No prior
test-set'' (no previous mammograms available) while one
radiographer completed the ``Prior test-set'' (most current
screening mammograms with access to previous mammograms) in the
first reading session. In the second reading session, 12
radiographers completed the ``Prior test-set'' and one
radiographer completed the ``No prior test-set''. Their
performance with and without previous mammograms were calculated
and compared. RESULTS: The availability of prior mammograms
significantly improved specificity [81(range:58-95) vs. 60(range:37-79); p = 0.002], ROC [91(range:80-99) vs. 82 (range:57-91); p = 0.003], and JAFROC 87(range:73-99) vs. 79 (range:52-91); p = 0.01]. Prior mammograms also significantly reduced false positives (p = 0.002). No differences were
observed between readings with and without previous mammograms in terms of sensitivity (p = 0.70) and lesion sensitivity (p =
0.82). Years qualified as a radiographer did not modify the
influence of previous mammograms on specificity, ROC, and false
positives. Years specialised as breast radiographer slightly
modified the influence of previous mammograms in radiographers
with $geq$25 years of experience but not those with <25 years
of experience as breast radiographers. CONCLUSIONS: The
availability of previous screening mammograms improves
radiographers' ability to discriminate between normal and
abnormal mammograms and reduce the false positive rate without
affecting the detection of breast cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR
PRACTICE: The findings highlight the need for practices to store
screening mammograms and for radiographers to actively refer to
previous screening mammograms when interpreting mammograms from
the current screening round. It also highlights the need for
policies to establish a national accessible mammographic
database platform for integrated clinics and to account for
population mobility across states.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
radiographers’ performance in mammography interpretation is
unknown. This study assesses the impact that previous screening
mammograms has on radiographers’ interpretation of mammograms.
METHODS: Thirteen Australian radiographers working for the
national breast screening service independently interpreted a
mammography test-set containing mammograms of 28 women based on
the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists’
classification. Twelve radiographers completed the “No prior
test-set” (no previous mammograms available) while one
radiographer completed the “Prior test-set” (most current
screening mammograms with access to previous mammograms) in the
first reading session. In the second reading session, 12
radiographers completed the “Prior test-set” and one
radiographer completed the “No prior test-set”. Their
performance with and without previous mammograms were calculated
and compared. RESULTS: The availability of prior mammograms
significantly improved specificity [81(range:58-95) vs. 60(range:37-79); p = 0.002], ROC [91(range:80-99) vs. 82 (range:57-91); p = 0.003], and JAFROC 87(range:73-99) vs. 79 (range:52-91); p = 0.01]. Prior mammograms also significantly reduced false positives (p = 0.002). No differences were
observed between readings with and without previous mammograms in terms of sensitivity (p = 0.70) and lesion sensitivity (p =
0.82). Years qualified as a radiographer did not modify the
influence of previous mammograms on specificity, ROC, and false
positives. Years specialised as breast radiographer slightly
modified the influence of previous mammograms in radiographers
with $geq$25 years of experience but not those with <25 years
of experience as breast radiographers. CONCLUSIONS: The
availability of previous screening mammograms improves
radiographers’ ability to discriminate between normal and
abnormal mammograms and reduce the false positive rate without
affecting the detection of breast cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR
PRACTICE: The findings highlight the need for practices to store
screening mammograms and for radiographers to actively refer to
previous screening mammograms when interpreting mammograms from
the current screening round. It also highlights the need for
policies to establish a national accessible mammographic
database platform for integrated clinics and to account for
population mobility across states.
Hewson, Emily A; Dillon, Owen; Poulsen, Per R; Booth, Jeremy T; Keall, Paul J
Six‐degrees‐of‐freedom pelvic bone monitoring on 2D kV intrafraction images to enable multi‐target tracking for locally advanced prostate cancer Journal Article
In: Medical Physics, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 77–87, 2025, ISSN: 2473-4209.
@article{Hewson2024,
title = {Six‐degrees‐of‐freedom pelvic bone monitoring on 2D kV intrafraction images to enable multi‐target tracking for locally advanced prostate cancer},
author = {Emily A Hewson and Owen Dillon and Per R Poulsen and Jeremy T Booth and Paul J Keall},
doi = {10.1002/mp.17465},
issn = {2473-4209},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-00},
journal = {Medical Physics},
volume = {52},
number = {1},
pages = {77--87},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {Abstract Background Patients with locally advanced prostate cancer require the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes to be irradiated simultaneously during radiation therapy treatment. However, relative motion between treatment targets decreases dosimetric conformity. Current treatment methods mitigate this error by having large treatment margins and often prioritize the prostate at patient setup at the cost of lymph node coverage. Purpose Treatment accuracy can be improved through real‐time multi‐target adaptation which requires simultaneous motion monitoring of both the prostate and lymph node targets. This study developed and evaluated an intrafraction pelvic bone motion monitoring method as a surrogate for pelvic lymph node displacement to be combined with prostate motion monitoring to enable multi‐target six‐degrees‐of‐freedom (6DoF) tracking using 2D kV projections acquired during treatment. Material and methods A method to monitor pelvic bone translation and rotation was developed and retrospectively applied to images from 20 patients treated in the TROG 15.01 Stereotactic Prostate Ablative Radiotherapy with Kilovoltage Intrafraction Monitoring (KIM) trial. The pelvic motion monitoring method performed template matching to calculate the 6DoF position of the pelvis from 2D kV images. The method first generated a library of digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) for a range of imaging angles and pelvic rotations. The normalized 2D cross‐correlations were then calculated for each incoming kV image and a subset of DRRs and the DRR with the maximum correlation coefficient was used to estimate the pelvis translation and rotation. Translation of the pelvis in the unresolved direction was calculated using a 3D Gaussian probability estimation method. Prostate motion was measured using the KIM marker tracking method. The pelvic motion monitoring method was compared to the ground truth obtained from a 6DoF rigid registration of the CBCT and CT. Results The geometric errors of the pelvic motion monitoring method demonstrated sub‐mm and sub‐degree accuracy and precision in the translational directions (, , ) and rotational directions (, , ). The 3D relative displacement between the prostate and pelvic bones exceeded 2, 3, 5, and 7 mm for approximately 66%, 44%, 12%, and 7% of the images. Conclusions Accurate intrafraction pelvic bone motion monitoring in 6DoF was demonstrated on 2D kV images, providing a necessary tool for real‐time multi‐target motion‐adapted treatment. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Akwo, J. D.; Trieu, P. D. (Yun); Barron, M. L.; Reynolds, T.; Lewis, S. J.
Does access to prior mammograms improve the performance of radiographers in interpreting screening mammograms? Journal Article
In: Radiography, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 247–253, 2025, ISSN: 1078-8174.
BibTeX | Links:
@article{Akwo2025,
title = {Does access to prior mammograms improve the performance of radiographers in interpreting screening mammograms?},
author = {J.D. Akwo and P.D. (Yun) Trieu and M.L. Barron and T. Reynolds and S.J. Lewis},
doi = {10.1016/j.radi.2024.11.025},
issn = {1078-8174},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-00},
journal = {Radiography},
volume = {31},
number = {1},
pages = {247--253},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2024
Shen, Sheng; Koonjoo, Neha; Boele, Thomas; Lu, Jiaqi; Waddington, David E. J.; Zhang, Marie; Rosen, Matthew S.
Enhancing organ and vascular contrast in preclinical ultra-low field MRI using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles Journal Article
In: Commun Biol, vol. 7, no. 1, 2024, ISSN: 2399-3642.
BibTeX | Links:
@article{Shen2024,
title = {Enhancing organ and vascular contrast in preclinical ultra-low field MRI using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles},
author = {Sheng Shen and Neha Koonjoo and Thomas Boele and Jiaqi Lu and David E. J. Waddington and Marie Zhang and Matthew S. Rosen},
doi = {10.1038/s42003-024-06884-1},
issn = {2399-3642},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-00},
journal = {Commun Biol},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Reynolds, Tess; Ma, Yiqun; Kanawati, Andrew; Dillon, Owen; Baer, Kenzie; Gang, Grace; Stayman, Joseph
Universal non-circular cone beam CT orbits for metal artifact reduction imaging during image-guided procedures Journal Article
In: Sci Rep, vol. 14, no. 1, 2024, ISSN: 2045-2322.
@article{Reynolds2024b,
title = {Universal non-circular cone beam CT orbits for metal artifact reduction imaging during image-guided procedures},
author = {Tess Reynolds and Yiqun Ma and Andrew Kanawati and Owen Dillon and Kenzie Baer and Grace Gang and Joseph Stayman},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-024-77964-9},
issn = {2045-2322},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-00},
journal = {Sci Rep},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Abstract Innovation in image-guided procedures has been driven by advances in robotic Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) systems. A fundamental challenge for CBCT imaging is metal artifacts arising from surgical tools and implanted hardware. Here, we outline how two universal non-circular imaging orbits, optimized for metal artifact reduction, can be implemented in real-time on clinical robotic CBCT systems. Demonstrating potential clinical utility, the universal orbits were implemented during a pedicle screw cervical spine fixation and hip arthroplasty performed on a porcine and ovine cadaver respectively. In both procedures, the universal non-circular orbits noticeably reduced the metal artifacts surrounding the implanted orthopedic hardware, revealing anatomy and soft tissue obscured in current conventional CBCT imaging. This work represents a key step in clinically translating universal orbits, unlocking high quality in-room procedural verification to increase broader use of robotic CBCT systems and reduce the occurrence of secondary corrective surgeries. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Reynolds, Tess; Dillon, Owen; Ma, Yiqun; Hindley, Nicholas; Stayman, J. Webster; Bazalova-Carter, Magdalena
Investigating 4D respiratory cone-beam CT imaging for thoracic interventions on robotic C-arm systems: a deformable phantom study Journal Article
In: Phys Eng Sci Med, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 1751–1762, 2024, ISSN: 2662-4737.
@article{Reynolds2024,
title = {Investigating 4D respiratory cone-beam CT imaging for thoracic interventions on robotic C-arm systems: a deformable phantom study},
author = {Tess Reynolds and Owen Dillon and Yiqun Ma and Nicholas Hindley and J. Webster Stayman and Magdalena Bazalova-Carter},
doi = {10.1007/s13246-024-01491-0},
issn = {2662-4737},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-00},
journal = {Phys Eng Sci Med},
volume = {47},
number = {4},
pages = {1751--1762},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Abstract Increasingly, interventional thoracic workflows utilize cone-beam CT (CBCT) to improve navigational and diagnostic yield. Here, we investigate the feasibility of implementing free-breathing 4D respiratory CBCT for motion mitigated imaging in patients unable to perform a breath-hold or without suspending mechanical ventilation during thoracic interventions. Circular 4D respiratory CBCT imaging trajectories were implemented on a clinical robotic CBCT system using additional real-time control hardware. The circular trajectories consisted of 1 × 360° circle at 0° tilt with fixed gantry velocities of 2°/s, 10°/s, and 20°/s. The imaging target was an in-house developed anthropomorphic breathing thorax phantom with deformable lungs and 3D-printed imaging targets. The phantom was programmed to reproduce 3 patient-measured breathing traces. Following image acquisition, projections were retrospectively binned into ten respiratory phases and reconstructed using filtered back projection, model-based, and iterative motion compensated algorithms. A conventional circular acquisition on the system of the free-breathing phantom was used as comparator. Edge Response Width (ERW) of the imaging target boundaries and Contrast-to-Noise Ratio (CNR) were used for image quality quantification. All acquisitions across all traces considered displayed visual evidence of motion blurring, and this was reflected in the quantitative measurements. Additionally, all the 4D respiratory acquisitions displayed a lower contrast compared to the conventional acquisitions for all three traces considered. Overall, the current implementation of 4D respiratory CBCT explored in this study with various gantry velocities combined with motion compensated algorithms improved image sharpness for the slower gantry rotations considered (2°/s and 10°/s) compared to conventional acquisitions over a variety of patient traces. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Plant, Natalie; Mylonas, Adam; Sengupta, Chandrima; Nguyen, Doan Trang; Silvester, Shona; Pryor, David; Greer, Peter; Lee, Yoo Young; Ramachandran, Prabhakar; Seshadri, Venkatakrishnan; Trada, Yuvnik; Khor, Richard; Wang, Tim; Hardcastle, Nicholas; Keall, Paul
Radio-opaque contrast agents for liver cancer targeting with KIM during radiation therapy (ROCK-RT): an observational feasibility study Journal Article
In: Radiat Oncol, vol. 19, no. 1, 2024, ISSN: 1748-717X.
@article{Plant2024,
title = {Radio-opaque contrast agents for liver cancer targeting with KIM during radiation therapy (ROCK-RT): an observational feasibility study},
author = {Natalie Plant and Adam Mylonas and Chandrima Sengupta and Doan Trang Nguyen and Shona Silvester and David Pryor and Peter Greer and Yoo Young Lee and Prabhakar Ramachandran and Venkatakrishnan Seshadri and Yuvnik Trada and Richard Khor and Tim Wang and Nicholas Hardcastle and Paul Keall},
doi = {10.1186/s13014-024-02524-4},
issn = {1748-717X},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-00},
journal = {Radiat Oncol},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Abstract
Background
This observational study aims to establish the feasibility of using x-ray images of radio-opaque chemoembolisation deposits in patients as a method for real-time image-guided radiation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods
This study will recruit 50 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who have had or will have stereotactic ablative radiation therapy and have had transarterial chemoembolisation with a radio-opaque agent. X-ray and computed tomography images of the patients will be analysed retrospectively. Additionally, a deep learning method for real-time motion tracking will be developed. We hypothesise that: (i) deep learning software can be developed that will successfully track the contrast agent mass on two thirds of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) projection and intra-treatment images (ii), the mean and standard deviation (mm) difference in the location of the mass between ground truth and deep learning detection are ≤ 2 mm and ≤ 3 mm respectively and (iii) statistical modelling of study data will predict tracking success in 85% of trial participants.
Discussion
Developing a real-time tracking method will enable increased targeting accuracy, without the need for additional invasive procedures to implant fiducial markers.
Trial registration
Registered to ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05169177) 12th October 2021.
},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Grover, James; Liu, Paul; Dong, Bin; Shan, Shanshan; Whelan, Brendan; Keall, Paul; Waddington, David E. J.
Super-resolution neural networks improve the spatiotemporal resolution of adaptive MRI-guided radiation therapy Journal Article
In: Commun Med, vol. 4, no. 1, 2024, ISSN: 2730-664X.
@article{Grover2024,
title = {Super-resolution neural networks improve the spatiotemporal resolution of adaptive MRI-guided radiation therapy},
author = {James Grover and Paul Liu and Bin Dong and Shanshan Shan and Brendan Whelan and Paul Keall and David E. J. Waddington},
doi = {10.1038/s43856-024-00489-9},
issn = {2730-664X},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-00},
journal = {Commun Med},
volume = {4},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Abstract
Background
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers superb non-invasive, soft tissue imaging of the human body. However, extensive data sampling requirements severely restrict the spatiotemporal resolution achievable with MRI. This limits the modality’s utility in real-time guidance applications, particularly for the rapidly growing MRI-guided radiation therapy approach to cancer treatment. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) could reduce the trade-off between the spatial and the temporal resolution of MRI, thus increasing the clinical utility of the imaging modality.
Methods
We trained deep learning-based super-resolution neural networks to increase the spatial resolution of real-time MRI. We developed a framework to integrate neural networks directly onto a 1.0 T MRI-linac enabling real-time super-resolution imaging. We integrated this framework with the targeting system of the MRI-linac to demonstrate real-time beam adaptation with super-resolution-based imaging. We tested the integrated system using large publicly available datasets, healthy volunteer imaging, phantom imaging, and beam tracking experiments using bicubic interpolation as a baseline comparison.
Results
Deep learning-based super-resolution increases the spatial resolution of real-time MRI across a variety of experiments, offering measured performance benefits compared to bicubic interpolation. The temporal resolution is not compromised as measured by a real-time adaptation latency experiment. These two effects, an increase in the spatial resolution with a negligible decrease in the temporal resolution, leads to a net increase in the spatiotemporal resolution.
Conclusions
Deployed super-resolution neural networks can increase the spatiotemporal resolution of real-time MRI. This has applications to domains such as MRI-guided radiation therapy and interventional procedures.
},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Chin, Vicky; Finnegan, Robert N; Keall, Paul; Otton, James; Delaney, Geoff P; Vinod, Shalini K
Overview of cardiac toxicity from radiation therapy Journal Article
In: J Med Imag Rad Onc, vol. 68, no. 8, pp. 987–1000, 2024, ISSN: 1754-9485.
@article{Chin2024c,
title = {Overview of cardiac toxicity from radiation therapy},
author = {Vicky Chin and Robert N Finnegan and Paul Keall and James Otton and Geoff P Delaney and Shalini K Vinod},
doi = {10.1111/1754-9485.13757},
issn = {1754-9485},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-00},
journal = {J Med Imag Rad Onc},
volume = {68},
number = {8},
pages = {987--1000},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {Abstract Radiotherapy is an essential part of treatment for many patients with thoracic cancers. However, proximity of the heart to tumour targets can lead to cardiac side effects, with studies demonstrating link between cardiac radiation dose and adverse outcomes. Although reducing cardiac dose can reduce associated risks, most cardiac constraint recommendations in clinical use are generally based on dose to the whole heart, as dose assessment at cardiac substructure levels on individual patients has been limited historically. Furthermore, estimation of an individual's cardiac risk is complex and multifactorial, which includes radiation dose alongside baseline risk factors, and the impact of systemic therapies. This review gives an overview of the epidemiological impact of cancer and cardiac disease, risk factors contributing to radiation‐related cardiotoxicity, the evidence for cardiac side effects and future directions in cardiotoxicity research. A better understanding of the interactions between risk factors, balancing treatment benefit versus toxicity and the ongoing management of cardiac risk is essential for optimal clinical care. The emerging field of cardio‐oncology is thus a multidisciplinary collaborative effort to enable better understanding of cardiac risks and outcomes for better‐informed patient management decisions. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Akwo, J. D.; Trieu, P. D. (Yun); Barron, M. L.; Reynolds, T.; Lewis, S. J.
Access to prior screening mammograms affects the specificity but not sensitivity of radiologists’ performance Journal Article
In: Clinical Radiology, vol. 79, no. 12, pp. e1549–e1556, 2024, ISSN: 0009-9260.
BibTeX | Links:
@article{Akwo2024,
title = {Access to prior screening mammograms affects the specificity but not sensitivity of radiologists' performance},
author = {J.D. Akwo and P. D. (Yun) Trieu and M.L. Barron and T. Reynolds and S.J. Lewis},
doi = {10.1016/j.crad.2024.09.007},
issn = {0009-9260},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-00},
journal = {Clinical Radiology},
volume = {79},
number = {12},
pages = {e1549--e1556},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Whelan, Brendan M.; Liu, Paul Z. Y.; Shan, Shanshan; Waddington, David E. J.; Dong, Bin; Jameson, Michael G.; Keall, Paul J.
Open‐source hardware and software for the measurement, characterization, reporting, and correction of geometric distortion in MRI Journal Article
In: Medical Physics, vol. 51, no. 11, pp. 8399–8410, 2024, ISSN: 2473-4209.
@article{Whelan2024,
title = {Open‐source hardware and software for the measurement, characterization, reporting, and correction of geometric distortion in MRI},
author = {Brendan M. Whelan and Paul Z. Y. Liu and Shanshan Shan and David E. J. Waddington and Bin Dong and Michael G. Jameson and Paul J. Keall},
doi = {10.1002/mp.17342},
issn = {2473-4209},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-11-00},
journal = {Medical Physics},
volume = {51},
number = {11},
pages = {8399--8410},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {Abstract Background Geometric distortion is a serious problem in MRI, particularly in MRI guided therapy. A lack of affordable and adaptable tools in this area limits research progress and harmonized quality assurance. Purpose To develop and test a suite of open‐source hardware and software tools for the measurement, characterization, reporting, and correction of geometric distortion in MRI. Methods An open‐source python library was developed, comprising modules for parametric phantom design, data processing, spherical harmonics, distortion correction, and interactive reporting. The code was used to design and manufacture a distortion phantom consisting of 618 oil filled markers covering a sphere of radius 150 mm. This phantom was imaged on a CT scanner and a novel split‐bore 1.0 T MRI magnet. The CT images provide distortion‐free dataset. These data were used to test all modules of the open‐source software. Results All markers were successfully extracted from all images. The distorted MRI markers were mapped to undistorted CT data using an iterative search approach. Spherical harmonics reconstructed the fitted gradient data to 1.0 ± 0.6% of the input data. High resolution data were reconstructed via spherical harmonics and used to generate an interactive report. Finally, distortion correction on an independent data set reduced distortion inside the DSV from 5.5 ± 3.1 to 1.6 ± 0.8 mm. Conclusion Open‐source hardware and software for the measurement, characterization, reporting, and correction of geometric distortion in MRI have been developed. The utility of these tools has been demonstrated via their application on a novel 1.0 T split bore magnet. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}