Quantitative imaging for radiotherapy purposes

Area of Science:

• Radiotherapy
• Medical Imaging
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Quantitative imaging biomarkers offer potential in radiotherapy.
• They can improve radiotherapy target delineation.
• Biomarkers may predict treatment response and aid stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review standards, guidelines, and recommendations for quantitative imaging assessment.
• To identify critical issues and future research directions for quantitative imaging in radiation oncology.

Main Methods:

• Review of published standards, guidelines, and recommendations.
• Discussion of quantitative imaging assessment using CT, PET, and MRI.

Main Results:

• Quantitative imaging can improve radiotherapy target contouring.
• It can predict treatment response and stratify patients.
• It enables personalized radiation doses, including dose painting.

Conclusions:

• Quantitative imaging holds significant promise for advancing radiotherapy.
• Further research is needed to address critical issues in its application.
• Established standards are crucial for reliable implementation.