SU‐E‐T‐509: Inter‐Observer and Inter‐Modality Contouring Analysis for Organs at Risk for HDR Gynecological Brachytherapy

Abstract

PurposeThis study quantifies errors associated with MR‐guided High Dose Rate (HDR) gynecological brachytherapy. Uncertainties in this treatment results from contouring, organ motion between imaging and treatment delivery, dose calculation, and dose delivery. We focus on interobserver and inter‐modality variability in contouring and the motion of organs at risk (OARs) in the time span between the MR and CT scans (∼1 hour). We report the change in organ volume and position of center of mass (CM) between the two imaging modalities.MethodsA total of 8 patients treated with MR‐guided HDR brachytherapy were included in this study. Two observers contoured the bladder and rectum on both MR and CT scans. The change in OAR volume and CM position between the MR and CT imaging sessions on both image sets were calculated.ResultsThe absolute mean bladder volume change between the two imaging modalities is 67.1cc. The absolute mean inter‐observer difference in bladder volume is much lower at 15.5cc (MR) and 11.0cc (CT). This higher inter‐modality volume difference suggests a real change in the bladder filling between the two imaging sessions. Change in Rectum volume inter‐observer standard error of means (SEM) is 3.18cc (MR) and 3.09cc (CT), while the inter‐modality SEM is 3.65cc (observer 1), and 2.75cc (observer 2). The SEM for rectum CM position in the superior‐inferior direction was approximately three times higher than in other directions for both the inter—observer (0.77 cm, 0.92 cm for observers 1 and 2, respectively) and inter‐modality (0.91 cm, 0.95 cm for MR and CT, respectively) variability.ConclusionBladder contours display good consistency between different observers on both CT and MR images. For rectum contouring the highest inconsistency stems from the observers’ choice of the superior‐inferior borders. A complete analysis of a larger patient cohort will enable us to separate the true organ motion from the inter‐observer variability.