We investigated the feasibility of patient dose reduction based on six noise suppression filters for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in an image-guided patient positioning (IGPP) system. A midpoint dose was employed as a patient dose index. First, a reference dose (RD) and low-dose (LD)-CBCT images were acquired with a reference dose and various low doses. Second, an automated rigid registration was performed for three axis translations to estimate patient setup errors between a planning CT image and the LD-CBCT images processed by six noise suppression filters (averaging filter, median filter, Gaussian filter, edge-preserving smoothing filter, bilateral filter, and adaptive partial median filter (AMF)). Third, residual errors representing the patient positioning accuracy were calculated as Euclidean distances between the setup error vectors estimated using the LD-CBCT and RD-CBCT images. Finally, the residual errors as a function of the patient dose index were estimated for LD-CBCT images processed by six noise suppression filters, and then the patient dose indices for the filtered LD-CBCT images were obtained at the same residual error as the RD-CBCT image. This approach was applied to an anthropomorphic phantom and four cancer patients. The patient dose for the LD-CBCT images was reduced to 19% of that for the RD-CBCT image for the phantom by using AMF, while keeping a same residual error of 0.47 mm as the RD-CBCT image by applying the noise suppression filters to the LD-CBCT images. The average patient dose was reduced to 31.1% for prostate cancer patients, and it was reduced to 82.5% for a lung cancer patient by applying the AMF. These preliminary results suggested that the proposed approach based on noise suppression filters could decrease the patient dose in IGPP systems.

We have investigated an approach of exposure dose reduction in image guided patient positioning (IGPP) system based on noise suppression filters for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Three axis translations (left-right, anterior-posterior, superior-inferior) were performed on the IGPP system as patient setup errors between a planning CT image and the low-dose (LD)-CBCT images, which were processed by 6 noise suppression filters, i.e., averaging filter (AF), median filter (MF), Gaussian filter (GF), bilateral filter (BF), edge preserving smoothing filter (EPF), and adaptive partial median filter (AMF). A reference dose (RD) and low-dose (LD)-CBCT images were acquired with a reference exposure dose of 86.2 mGy and various low exposure doses of 1.4 to 43.1 mGy, respectively. The exposure doses were estimated by use of weighted CT dose index (CTDI w ). Residual errors representing the patient positioning accuracy were calculated as an Euclidean distance between setup error vectors estimated using the LD-CBCT image and RD-CBCT image. The residual errors as a function of the exposure dose (CTDI w ) were obtained for LD-CBCT images processed by the 6 noise suppression filters, and then the exposure doses for the 6 filtered LD-CBCT images were estimated at a residual error, which was a baseline obtained with the RD-CBCT. This approach was applied to an anthropomorphic pelvic phantom. Our phantom study showed that the exposure doses could be reduced from 67% (EPF) to 77% (AMF) while keeping the same residual error as the RD-CBCT by applying the noise suppression filters to the LD-CBCT images. The preliminary results suggested that applying noise suppression filters, particularly an adaptive partial median filter, could be feasible to decrease the additional exposure dose to patients in IGPP systems.

SummaryRecently, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is used worldwide, highly accurate verification of the location using image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) has become critical. However, the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to ascertain the location each time raises concerns about its influence on radiotherapy dosage and increased radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to measure the absorbed dose using nine kilovoltage (kV) devices and two megavoltage (MV) devices (total 11 devices) at eight facilities, compare the absorbed dose among the devices, and assess the characteristics of the respective devices to ensure optimal clinical operation. For the measurement of the absorbed dose, a farmer-type ionization chamber dosimeter, calibrated using a 60 Co and an IMRT dose verification phantom manufactured from water-equivalent material RW3, was used to measure the absorbed dose at nine points in the phantom for two regions, the pelvic and cephalic region. The average absorbed dose of the pelvic region was 3.09±0.21 cGy in kV-CBCT (OBI), 1.16±0.16 cGy in kV-CBCT (XVI), 5.64±1.48 cGy in MV-CBCT (4 MV), and 6.33±1.54 cGy in MV-CBCT (6 MV). The average absorbed dose of the cephalic region was 0.38±0.03 cGy in kV-CBCT (OBI), 0.23±0.06 cGy in kV-CBCT (XVI), 4.02±0.72 cGy in MV-CBCT (4 MV), and 4.46±0.77 cGy in MV-CBCT (6 MV).

Purpose: To investigate the possibility of exposure dose reduction of the cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) in an image guided patient positioning system by using 6 noise suppression filters. Methods: First, a reference dose (RD) and low‐dose (LD)‐CBCT (X‐ray volume imaging system, Elekta Co.) images were acquired with a reference dose of 86.2 mGy (weighted CT dose index: CTDIw) and various low doses of 1.4 to 43.1 mGy, respectively. Second, an automated rigid registration for three axes was performed for estimating setup errors between a planning CT image and the LD‐CBCT images, which were processed by 6 noise suppression filters, i.e., averaging filter (AF), median filter (MF), Gaussian filter (GF), bilateral filter (BF), edge preserving smoothing filter (EPF) and adaptive partial median filter (AMF). Third, residual errors representing the patient positioning accuracy were calculated as an Euclidean distance between the setup error vectors estimated using the LD‐CBCT image and RD‐CBCT image. Finally, the relationships between the residual error and CTDIw were obtained for 6 noise suppression filters, and then the CTDIw for LD‐CBCT images processed by the noise suppression filters were measured at the same residual error, which was obtained with the RD‐CBCT. This approach was applied to an anthropomorphic pelvic phantom and two cancer patients. Results: For the phantom, the exposure dose could be reduced from 61% (GF) to 78% (AMF) by applying the noise suppression filters to the CBCT images. The exposure dose in a prostate cancer case could be reduced from 8% (AF) to 61% (AMF), and the exposure dose in a lung cancer case could be reduced from 9% (AF) to 37% (AMF). Conclusion: Using noise suppression filters, particularly an adaptive partial median filter, could be feasible to decrease the additional exposure dose to patients in image guided patient positioning systems.

Purpose: The purpose of he study was to reduce setup errors during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with an original knee fixation device (KFD) and evaluate the clinical target volume (CTV) coverage. Methods: Participants were classified into two groups: knee flexion (KF) group (n = 16), wherein participants' knees were fixed in a flexed position using the proposed KFD during planning computed tomography, and knee extension group (KE; n = 15), wherein no KFD was used. We investigated the residual rotational errors and inter-fractional setup errors with or without KFD. Furthermore, inter-fractional margins were calculated using logistic regression analysis, and CTV coverage was evaluated. Results: The residual rotational errors in the yaw and roll directions (P < 0.02) and the inter-fractional error in the anterior-posterior (A-P) direction (P < 0.02) improved significantly in the KF group compared with the KE group. Repeatability was improved for the pitch direction. The inter-fractional margins were 6.68 mm and 4.87 mm in the A-P and superior-inferior (S-I) directions, respectively, in the KF group, representing reductions (mm) of 20.8% and 12.6% compared with the KE group, respectively. The odds ratios for CTV coverage in the KF group compared to the KE group were 2.76 (P < 0.001) and 1.74 (P < 0.05) in the A-P and S-I directions, respectively. Conclusions: The IMRT fixation method using an original KFD improved the residual rotational error in the three directions and the inter-fractional error in the A-P direction, reduced the interfractional margins in the A-P, and S-I directions and improved CTV coverage. Our original KFD may be a useful fixation method during prostate IMRT.