MRI-assisted specification/localization of target volumes. Aspects of quality control

The transportation of MRI information on tumor extension into CT-based radiation therapy planning is desirable for several reasons. MRI's better contrast resolution is usually considered the most important, as it leads to a more exact definition of target volumes. Unlike diagnostic imaging, where a certain margin of error in depiction of tumor extension seems acceptable, radiation therapy planning makes it absolutely necessary, that the contents of every MR pixel (or voxel) correspond exactly to the corresponding area in the patient examined. This exact correspondence may be disturbed by a variety of influencing factors. Objects like various implants may lead to the most severe image distortions and--even worse--contrast alterations, some of which are not easily visible on the slices which are used for target volume definition. Additionally, MR images may have intrinsic faults which are able to change the correspondence between the voxel and the part of the patient's body it represents. Quality control has therefore to ensure that parameters like slice thickness are correct and kept constant by the imager. Image fusion may then be used to transfer MR information on tumor extension into the CT data. Electron density distribution provided by CT then allows for treatment planning. Implanted markers may then be used to ensure exact correspondence between the examined parts of the patient's body and the representing pixel or voxel. Care should be taken that landmarks themselves do not influence this relationship.