Open AccessCorrection of motion‐induced misalignment in co‐registered PET/CT and MRI (T1/T2/FLAIR) head images for stereotactic radiosurgery
Author(s) -
Li Guang,
Xie Huchen,
Ning Holly,
Citrin Deborah,
Kaushal Aradhana,
Camphausen Kevin,
Miller Robert W.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of applied clinical medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.83
H-Index - 48
ISSN - 1526-9914
DOI - 10.1120/jacmp.v12i1.3306
Subject(s) - radiosurgery , t2 weighted , fluid attenuated inversion recovery , nuclear medicine , medicine , radiology , medical physics , magnetic resonance imaging , radiation therapy
The purpose was to evaluate and correct the co‐registration of diagnostic PET/CT and MRI/MRI images for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using 3D volumetric image registration (3DVIR). The 3DVIR utilizes the homogeneity of color distribution over a volumetric anatomical landmark as the registration criterion with submillimeter accuracy. Fifty‐three PET/CT and MRI (T1, T2 and FLAIR) image sets of patients with brain lesions were acquired sequentially from a hybrid PET/CT or an MRI scanner with common diagnostic head holding devices. Twenty‐five sets of head 18 F − FDG − PET / CT images were scanned over a 10‐minute interval and 14 whole‐body sets were scanned over a 30‐minute interval. Fourteen sets of MRI images were acquired, and each 3‐modal image set (T1, T2 and FLAIR) was scanned in sequence at time 0, ~ 5 and ~ 20 minutes. The misalignments in these “co‐registered” images were evaluated and corrected using the 3DVIR. Using the head immobilization devices commonly found in diagnostic PET/CT and MRI/MRI imaging, 80%–100% of these “co‐registered” images were identified as misaligned. For PET/CT, the magnitude of misalignment was 0.4 ° ± 0.5 ° and 0.7 ± 0.4 mm for 10‐minute scans, and 0.8 ° ± 1.2 ° and 2.7 ± 1.7 mm for 30‐minute scans. For MRI/MRI, the magnitude was 0.2 ° ± 0.4 ° and 0.3 ± 0.2 mm for 5‐minute scan intervals, and 1.1 ° ± 0.7 ° and 1.2 ± 1.4 mm for 20‐minute intervals. Small, but significant, misalignment is present in the co‐registered diagnostic PET/CT and MRI/MRI images and can be corrected in SRS treatment planning using the volumetric image registration for improved target localization within the clinical error tolerance. PACS numbers: 87.53.Ly, 87.57.nj, 87.57.uk, 87.57.Q‐, 87.61.jc, 87.19.xc Conflict of Interest Statement: The authors do not have any conflict of interest on this research report.