Evaluation of respiratory movement during gated radiotherapy using film and electronic portal imaging Journal Article


Authors: Ford, E. C.; Mageras, G. S.; Yorke, E.; Rosenzweig, K. E.; Wagman, R.; Ling, C. C.
Article Title: Evaluation of respiratory movement during gated radiotherapy using film and electronic portal imaging
Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a commercial system1 in reducing respiration-induced treatment uncertainty by gating the radiation delivery. Methods and Materials: The gating system considered here measures respiration from the position of a reflective marker on the patient's chest. Respiration-triggered planning CT scans were obtained for 8 patients (4 lung, 4 liver) at the intended phase of respiration (6 at end expiration and 2 at end inspiration). In addition, fluoroscopic movies were recorded simultaneously with the respiratory waveform. During the treatment sessions, gated localization films were used to measure the position of the diaphragm relative to the vertebral bodies, which was compared to the reference digitally reconstructed radiograph derived from the respiration-triggered planning CT. Variability was quantified by the standard deviation about the mean position. We also assessed the interfraction variability of soft tissue structures during gated treatment in 2 patients using an amorphous silicon electronic portal imaging device. Results: The gated localization films revealed an interfraction patient-averaged diaphragm variability of 2.8 ± 1.0 mm (error bars indicate standard deviation in the patient population). The fluoroscopic data yielded a patient-averaged intrafraction diaphragm variability of 2.6 ± 1.7 mm. With no gating, this intrafraction excursion became 6.9 ± 2.1 mm. In gated localization films, the patient-averaged mean displacement of the diaphragm from the planning position was 0.0 ± 3.9 mm. However, in 4 of the 8 patients, the mean (over localization films) displacement was >4 mm, indicating a systematic displacement in treatment position from the planned one. The position of soft tissue features observed in portal images during gated treatments over several fractions showed a mean variability between 2.6 and 5.7 mm. The intrafraction variability, however, was between 0.6 and 1.4 mm, indicating that most of the variability was due to patient setup errors rather than to respiratory motion. Conclusions: The gating system evaluated here reduces the intra- and interfraction variability of anatomy due to respiratory motion. However, systematic displacements were observed in some cases between the location of an anatomic feature at simulation and its location during treatment. Frequent monitoring is advisable with film or portal imaging. Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc.
Keywords: clinical article; controlled study; treatment outcome; treatment planning; liver neoplasms; accuracy; reproducibility of results; computer assisted tomography; lung neoplasms; radiotherapy; oncology; algorithms; computerized tomography; medical imaging; device; lung; radiography; computer simulation; motion; respiration; computer program; diaphragm; radiation field; technique; physics; tissue; fluoroscopy; vertebra body; infrared radiation; radiotherapy, computer-assisted; breathing; movement; technology, radiologic; biofilms; respiratory system; respiratory motion; gating; gated imaging; electronic portal imaging device; humans; human; priority journal; article; fluoroscopic images; amorphous silicon; gated system
Journal Title: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Volume: 52
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0360-3016
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2002-02-01
Start Page: 522
End Page: 531
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/s0360-3016(01)02681-5
PUBMED: 11872300
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 14 November 2014 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Eric C Ford
    18 Ford
  2. Gikas S Mageras
    277 Mageras
  3. Ellen D Yorke
    452 Yorke
  4. C Clifton Ling
    331 Ling