Assessment of imaging Cherenkov and scintillation signals in head and neck radiotherapy.

Assessment of imaging Cherenkov and scintillation signals in head and neck radiotherapy.
Phys Med Biol. 2019 May 30;:
Authors: Alexander DA, Tendler II, Bruza P, Cao X, Schaner PE, Marshall BS, Jarvis LA, Gladstone DJ, Pogue BW
Abstract
The goal of this study was to test the utility of time-gated optical imaging of head and neck radiotherapy treatments to measure surface dosimetry in real-time and inform possible interfraction replanning decisions. The benefit of both Cherenkov and scintillator imaging in head and neck treatments is direct daily feedback on dose, with no change to the clinical workflow. Emission from treatment materials was characterized by measuring radioluminescence spectra during irradiation and comparing emission intensities relative to Cherenkov emission produced in phantoms and scintillation from small plastic targets. Head and neck treatment plans were delivered to a phantom with bolus and mask present to measure impact on signal quality. Interfraction superficial tumor reduction was simulated on a head and neck phantom, and cumulative Cherenkov images were analyzed in the region of interest. Head and neck human patient treatment was imaged through the mask and compared with the dose distribution calculated by the treatment planning system. The relative intensity of radioluminescence from the mask was found to be within 30% of the Cherenkov emission intensity from tissue-colored clay. A strong linear relations...

Source: Physics in Medicine and Biology - May 29, 2019 Category: Physics Authors: Alexander DA, Tendler II, Bruza P, Cao X, Schaner PE, Marshall BS, Jarvis LA, Gladstone DJ, Pogue BW Tags: Phys Med Biol Source Type: research