Benefits and considerations in using a novel computed tomography system optimized for radiotherapy planning

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiotherapy Physics
• Radiation Oncology

Background:

• Radiotherapy planning relies heavily on accurate computed tomography (CT) imaging.
• Current CT systems face limitations in metal artifact reduction and precise dose calculation, particularly in high-density regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel 16-bit CT system designed for radiotherapy planning.
• To assess the system's performance regarding image quality, artifact reduction, and dose calculation accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 616 scans over six months using various protocols on the novel 16-bit CT system.
• Utilized direct density (DD) reconstruction for CT number calibration across multiple tube voltages.
• Imported an average of four CT series per session into treatment planning software (TPS).

Main Results:

• The direct density reconstruction allowed a single CT number calibration curve for diverse tube voltages.
• Significant reduction in metal artifacts was observed.
• The 16-bit capability enabled accurate dose calculations in areas with high-density materials.
• Challenges were identified in the integration of the system with existing TPS.

Conclusions:

• The novel 16-bit CT system demonstrates significant potential for enhancing radiotherapy planning workflows.
• Improvements in metal artifact reduction and dose calculation are key benefits.
• Further work is needed to address TPS integration challenges for seamless clinical adoption.