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Feasibility of real‐time motion tracking using cine MRI during MR‐guided radiation therapy for abdominal targets
Author(s) -
Keiper Timothy D.,
Tai An,
Chen Xinfeng,
Paulson Eric,
Lathuilière Fabienne,
Bériault Silvain,
Hébert François,
Cooper David T.,
Lachaine Martin,
Li X. Allen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1002/mp.14230
Subject(s) - imaging phantom , magnetic resonance imaging , match moving , ground truth , sagittal plane , computer vision , image registration , tracking (education) , computer science , image guided radiation therapy , nuclear medicine , coronal plane , artificial intelligence , medical imaging , physics , motion (physics) , medicine , radiology , image (mathematics) , psychology , pedagogy
Purpose Real‐time high soft‐tissue contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from the MR‐Linac offers the best opportunity for accurate motion tracking during radiation therapy delivery via high‐frequency two‐dimensional (2D) cine imaging. This work investigates the efficacy of real‐time organ motion tracking based on the registration of MRI acquired on MR‐Linac. Methods Algorithms based on image intensity were developed to determine the three‐dimensional (3D) translation of abdominal targets. 2D and 3D abdominal MRIs were acquired for 10 healthy volunteers using a high‐field MR‐Linac. For each volunteer, 3D respiration‐gated T2 and 2D T2/T1‐weighted cine in sagittal, coronal, and axial planes with a planar temporal resolution of 0.6 for 60 s was captured. Datasets were also collected on MR‐compatible physical and virtual four‐dimensional (4D) motion phantoms. Target contours for the liver and pancreas from the 3D T2 were populated to the cine and assumed as the ground‐truth motion. We performed image registration using a research software to track the target 3D motion. Standard deviations of the error (SDE) between the ground‐truth and tracking were analyzed. Results Algorithms using a research software were demonstrated to be capable of tracking arbitrary targets in the abdomen at 5 Hz with an overall accuracy of 0.6 mm in phantom studies and 2.1 mm in volunteers. However, this value is subject to patient‐specific considerations, namely motion amplitude. Calculation times of < 50 ms provide a pathway of real‐time motion tracking integration. A major challenge in using 2D cine MRI to track the target is handling the full 3D motion of the target. Conclusions Feasibility to track organ motion using intensity‐based registration of MRIs was demonstrated for abdominal targets. Tracking accuracy of about 2 mm was achieved for the motion of the liver and pancreatic head for typical patient motion. Further development is ongoing to improve the tracking algorithm for large and complex motions.