Evaluation of MegaVoltage Cone Beam CT image quality with an unmodified Elekta Precise Linac and EPID: a feasibility study

Abstract

In order to increase the accuracy of patient positioning for complex radiotherapy treatments various 3D imaging techniques have been developed. MegaVoltage Cone Beam CT (MVCBCT) can utilise existing hardware to implement a 3D imaging modality to aid patient positioning. MVCBCT has been investigated using an unmodified Elekta Precise Linac and iView amorphous silicon electronic portal imaging device (EPID). Two methods of delivery and acquisition have been investigated for imaging an anthropomorphic head phantom and quality assurance phantom. Phantom projections were successfully acquired and CT datasets reconstructed using both acquisition methods. Bone, tissue and air were clearly resolvable in both phantoms even with low dose (22 MU) scans. The feasibility of MVCBCT was investigated using a standard linac, amorphous silicon EPID and a combination of a free open source reconstruction toolkit as well as custom in-house software written in Matlab. The resultant image quality has been assessed and presented. Although bone, tissue and air were resolvable in all scans, artifacts are present and scan doses are increased when compared with standard portal imaging. The feasibility of MVCBCT with unmodified Elekta Precise Linac and EPID has been considered as well as the identification of possible areas for future development in artifact correction techniques to further improve image quality.