Surface-guided radiotherapy overview: Technical aspects and clinical applications.

Area of Science:

• Medical physics
• Radiotherapy technology
• Image-guided therapy

Background:

• Traditional radiotherapy patient positioning relies on ionizing imaging (kV or MV).
• Emerging surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT) offers an alternative positioning and monitoring method.
• SGRT utilizes continuous 3D surface acquisition via optical cameras.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and describe the principles and applications of surface-guided radiotherapy.
• To highlight the benefits of SGRT in patient positioning and treatment monitoring.
• To discuss specific clinical advantages of SGRT, such as for breast cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Continuous 3D surface acquisition using multiple optical cameras.
• Comparison of the acquired patient surface with a reference surface from planning scans.
• Real-time monitoring of patient position, anatomical changes, and shifts.

Main Results:

• SGRT provides aid in patient positioning, potentially eliminating the need for tattoos.
• Enables continuous patient monitoring throughout the radiotherapy session.
• Demonstrates significant benefits for specific treatment sites, notably breast radiotherapy, where bone registration is suboptimal.

Conclusions:

• Surface-guided radiotherapy offers a valuable tool for precise patient positioning and real-time monitoring.
• The system is particularly advantageous for treatments where traditional methods are less effective, such as breast radiotherapy.
• SGRT facilitates advanced treatment techniques like deep inspiration breath hold and can be applied to various anatomical sites.