Contouring practices and artefact management within a synthetic CT-based radiotherapy workflow for the central nervous system.

Contouring process MR-only Metal artefacts Radiation therapy Synthetic-CT

Journal

Radiation oncology (London, England)
ISSN: 1748-717X
Titre abrégé: Radiat Oncol
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101265111

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
29 Feb 2024
Historique:
received: 04 10 2023
accepted: 19 02 2024
medline: 1 3 2024
pubmed: 1 3 2024
entrez: 29 2 2024
Statut: epublish

Résumé

The incorporation of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in radiotherapy (RT) workflows improves contouring precision, yet it introduces geometrical uncertainties when registered with computed tomography (CT) scans. Synthetic CT (sCT) images could minimize these uncertainties and streamline the RT workflow. This study aims to compare the contouring capabilities of sCT images with conventional CT-based/MR-assisted RT workflows, with an emphasis on managing artefacts caused by surgical fixation devices (SFDs). The study comprised a commissioning cohort of 100 patients with cranial tumors treated using a conventional CT-based/MR-assisted RT workflow and a validation cohort of 30 patients with grade IV glioblastomas treated using an MR-only workflow. A CE-marked artificial-intelligence-based sCT product was utilized. The delineation accuracy comparison was performed using dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and average Hausdorff distance (AHD). Artefacts within the commissioning cohort were visually inspected, classified and an estimation of thickness was derived using Hausdorff distance (HD). For the validation cohort, boolean operators were used to extract artefact volumes adjacent to the target and contrasted to the planning treatment volume. The combination of high DSC (0.94) and low AHD (0.04 mm) indicates equal target delineation capacity between sCT images and conventional CT scans. However, the results for organs at risk delineation were less consistent, likely because of voxel size differences between sCT images and CT scans and absence of standardized delineation routines. Artefacts observed in sCT images appeared as enhancements of cranial bone. When close to the target, they could affect its definition. Therefore, in the validation cohort the clinical target volume (CTV) was expanded towards the bone by 3.5 mm, as estimated by HD analysis. Subsequent analysis on cone-beam CT scans showed that the CTV adjustment was enough to provide acceptable target coverage. The tested sCT product performed on par with conventional CT in terms of contouring capability. Additionally, this study provides both the first comprehensive classification of metal artefacts on a sCT product and a novel method to assess the clinical impact of artefacts caused by SFDs on target delineation. This methodology encourages similar analysis for other sCT products.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
The incorporation of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in radiotherapy (RT) workflows improves contouring precision, yet it introduces geometrical uncertainties when registered with computed tomography (CT) scans. Synthetic CT (sCT) images could minimize these uncertainties and streamline the RT workflow. This study aims to compare the contouring capabilities of sCT images with conventional CT-based/MR-assisted RT workflows, with an emphasis on managing artefacts caused by surgical fixation devices (SFDs).
METHODS METHODS
The study comprised a commissioning cohort of 100 patients with cranial tumors treated using a conventional CT-based/MR-assisted RT workflow and a validation cohort of 30 patients with grade IV glioblastomas treated using an MR-only workflow. A CE-marked artificial-intelligence-based sCT product was utilized. The delineation accuracy comparison was performed using dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and average Hausdorff distance (AHD). Artefacts within the commissioning cohort were visually inspected, classified and an estimation of thickness was derived using Hausdorff distance (HD). For the validation cohort, boolean operators were used to extract artefact volumes adjacent to the target and contrasted to the planning treatment volume.
RESULTS RESULTS
The combination of high DSC (0.94) and low AHD (0.04 mm) indicates equal target delineation capacity between sCT images and conventional CT scans. However, the results for organs at risk delineation were less consistent, likely because of voxel size differences between sCT images and CT scans and absence of standardized delineation routines. Artefacts observed in sCT images appeared as enhancements of cranial bone. When close to the target, they could affect its definition. Therefore, in the validation cohort the clinical target volume (CTV) was expanded towards the bone by 3.5 mm, as estimated by HD analysis. Subsequent analysis on cone-beam CT scans showed that the CTV adjustment was enough to provide acceptable target coverage.
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
The tested sCT product performed on par with conventional CT in terms of contouring capability. Additionally, this study provides both the first comprehensive classification of metal artefacts on a sCT product and a novel method to assess the clinical impact of artefacts caused by SFDs on target delineation. This methodology encourages similar analysis for other sCT products.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38424642
doi: 10.1186/s13014-024-02422-9
pii: 10.1186/s13014-024-02422-9
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

27

Informations de copyright

© 2024. The Author(s).

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Auteurs

Elia Rossi (E)

Department of Radiation Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden.

Sevgi Emin (S)

Radiotherapy Physics and Engineering, Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden.

Michael Gubanski (M)

Department of Radiation Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden.
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.

Giovanna Gagliardi (G)

Radiotherapy Physics and Engineering, Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden.
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.

Mattias Hedman (M)

Department of Radiation Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden.
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.

Fernanda Villegas (F)

Radiotherapy Physics and Engineering, Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden. fernanda.villegasnavarro@ki.se.
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden. fernanda.villegasnavarro@ki.se.

Classifications MeSH