Improving target delineation on 4-dimensional CT scans in stage I NSCLC using a deformable registration tool

Abstract

Introduction Correct target definition is crucial in stereotactic radiotherapy for lung tumors. We evaluated use of deformable registration (DR) for target contouring on 4-dimensional (4D) CT scans. Materials and methods Three clinicians contoured gross tumor volume (GTV) in an end-inspiration phase of 4DCT of 6 patients on two occasions. Two clinicians contoured GTVs in all phases of 4DCT and on maximum intensity projections (MIP). The initial GTV was auto-propagated to 9 other phases using a B-spline algorithm (VelocityAI). Internal target volumes (ITVs) generated were (i) ITV 10manual encompassing all physician-contoured GTVs, (ii) ITV–MIP optimized from MIP after review of individual 4DCT phases, (iii) ITV 10deformed encompassing auto-propagated GTVs using DR, and (iv) ITV 10deformed–optimized, from an ITV 10deformed target that was modified to form a ‘clinically optimal’ ITV. Volume-overlaps were scored using Dice’s Similarity Coefficients (DSCs). Results Intra-clinician GTV reproducibility was greater than inter-clinician reproducibility (mean DSC 0.93 vs. 0.88, p < 0.0004). In five of 6 patients, ITV–MIP optimized differed from the ITV 10deformed–optimized. In all patients, the DSC between ITV 10deformed–optimized and ITV 10deformed was higher than that between ITV 10deformed–optimized and ITV–MIP optimized ( p < 0.02 T-test). Conclusion ITVs created in stage I tumors using DR were closer to ‘clinically optimal’ ITVs than was the case with a MIP-modified approach.