The integration of PET-CT scans from different hospitals into radiotherapy treatment planning
Michel Ollers1, Geert Bosmans, Angela van Baardwijk
1Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. michel.oellers@maastro.nl
Purpose:
To integrate PET-CT scans from different hospitals into radiotherapy treatment planning.
Methods And Materials:
A cylindrical phantom with spheres of different diameters was scanned on three different Siemens Biograph PET-CT scanners in three hospitals. The spheres and cylinder were filled with 18F-FDG such that different sphere-to-background (S/B) ratios were obtained. Scans were analyzed using dedicated software for automated delineation based on standardized uptake value (SUV) and using different reconstruction parameters.
Results:
SUV thresholding curves for different S/B ratios were obtained for the different scanners. Differences in SUV auto-contouring thresholds were found to be significant for PET-CT simulators from different radiotherapy and nuclear medicine departments. A change in PET reconstruction parameters showed a significant effect on the results.
Conclusion:
Synchronization of PET-CT imaging protocols between cooperating hospitals is important for reliable determination of SUV auto-contouring thresholds. Whenever this goal has been achieved automated SUV delineation based on a S/B ratio using PET-CT images from different institutions can reliably be performed using individually determined threshold curves.
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