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Analysis and evaluation of periodic physiological organ motion in radiotherapy treatments.

Díez S, García J, Sendra F

Service of Radiation Physics and Radiation Protection, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibañez 17, 46010 Valencia, Spain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A system for the detection, measurement and analysis of the periodic physiological organ motion during radiotherapy treatment is proposed and clinically tested in this paper. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The procedure is based on the acquisition of fluoroscopic sequences, followed by an automatic detection of the movement using cross-correlations with matched filters. RESULTS: The system generates a probability density function (PDF) of finding a mobile organ in a position at a certain time. The maximum path of the mobile structures can be determined to define the planning target volume (PTV) without ambiguities. CONCLUSIONS: Physiological movements can be accurately included in the daily planning routine, which is not essentially modified, without needing previous patient training.

Published 13 December 2004 in Radiother Oncol, 73(3): 325-9.
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