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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Treatment of Liver Metastases Using an Internal Target Volume Method for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy
Published on: May 8, 2018
Radio-opaque contrast agents for liver cancer targeting with KIM during radiation therapy (ROCK-RT): an observational
Natalie Plant1, Adam Mylonas1, Chandrima Sengupta1
1Image X Institute, University of Sydney, Suite 201, Biomedical Building (C81), 1 Central Ave, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015, Australia.
Background:
This observational study aims to establish the feasibility of using x-ray images of radio-opaque chemoembolisation deposits in patients as a method for real-time image-guided radiation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods:
This study will recruit 50 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who have had or will have stereotactic ablative radiation therapy and have had transarterial chemoembolisation with a radio-opaque agent. X-ray and computed tomography images of the patients will be analysed retrospectively. Additionally, a deep learning method for real-time motion tracking will be developed. We hypothesise that: (i) deep learning software can be developed that will successfully track the contrast agent mass on two thirds of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) projection and intra-treatment images (ii), the mean and standard deviation (mm) difference in the location of the mass between ground truth and deep learning detection are ≤ 2 mm and ≤ 3 mm respectively and (iii) statistical modelling of study data will predict tracking success in 85% of trial participants.
Discussion:
Developing a real-time tracking method will enable increased targeting accuracy, without the need for additional invasive procedures to implant fiducial markers.
Trial Registration:
Registered to ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05169177) 12th October 2021.

