Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been broadly used in image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and adaptive radiation therapy (ART), to acquire the updated patient's geometry for precise targeting and treatment adaptation. However, the repeated use of CBCT during a treatment course has raised a serious concern on excessive x-ray imaging doses delivered to patients, which has greatly limited the maximal exploitation of the potential of modern radiotherapy. Especially for pediatric patients, this concern has prohibited the use of IGRT and ART, leading to compromised treatment outcome. Advanced iterative reconstruction algorithms, based on compressed sensing techniques, have demonstrated tremendous power in reconstructing CBCT images from very few and/or noisy projections, resulting in dramatically reduced imaging dose. However, these algorithms are very computationally inefficient and thus cannot be used in most clinical applications. We have recently made a breakthrough in developing an innovative CBCT reconstruction algorithm with a mathematical structure perfect for parallelization on a graphics processing unit (GPU) platform. Our preliminary results have shown that we can improve the efficiency by a factor of 100 over existing iterative algorithms and reduce the imaging dose by factor of 40~100 compared to the current clinical standard. Our goal is to develop this promising algorithm into a clinically functioning CBCT reconstruction system which can produce high quality CBCT images at extremely low radiation dose (<1% of the current dose) and high speed (<5 seconds), by pursuing the following two specific aims: SA1. We will develop a GPU-based system to reconstruct high quality CBCT images at ultra-low radiation dose and ultra-high speed. SA2. We will evaluate the system through a series of numerical, phantom, and patient studies, demonstrate the gain in imaging dose reduction, and establish clinical protocols under various clinical conditions. Upon the completion of the proposed project, a clinically ready-to-use CBCT reconstruction system with ultra-low dose and ultra-fast performance will have been systematically developed and evaluated. Clinical introduction of such a system will significantly benefit a large number of patients receiving modern radiotherapy. Especially, our work will for the first time make IGRT and ART clinically available for pediatric patients.

Public Health Relevance

This project is to develop an ultra fast and extremely low dose cone beam CT (CBCT) reconstruction system for image guided adaptive radiotherapy. Specifically, we will develop innovative CBCT reconstruction algorithms that can reduce the imaging dose to less than one percent of the current state of the art. More importantly, the mathematical structure of the new algorithms is perfect for GPU parallelization which makes the fast reconstruction clinically feasible.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA154747-01
Application #
8026135
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-DTCS-A (81))
Program Officer
Tandon, Pushpa
Project Start
2011-03-01
Project End
2016-02-29
Budget Start
2011-03-01
Budget End
2012-02-29
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$295,628
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Radiation-Diagnostic/Oncology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Bai, Ti; Yan, Hao; Jia, Xun et al. (2017) Z-Index Parameterization for Volumetric CT Image Reconstruction via 3-D Dictionary Learning. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 36:2466-2478
Bai, Ti; Yan, Hao; Ouyang, Luo et al. (2017) Data correlation based noise level estimation for cone beam projection data. J Xray Sci Technol 25:907-926
Yan, Hao; Tian, Zhen; Shao, Yiping et al. (2016) A new scheme for real-time high-contrast imaging in lung cancer radiotherapy: a proof-of-concept study. Phys Med Biol 61:2372-88
Xu, Yuan; Bai, Ti; Yan, Hao et al. (2015) A practical cone-beam CT scatter correction method with optimized Monte Carlo simulations for image-guided radiation therapy. Phys Med Biol 60:3567-87
Xu, Yuan; Yan, Hao; Ouyang, Luo et al. (2015) A method for volumetric imaging in radiotherapy using single x-ray projection. Med Phys 42:2498-509
Yan, Hao; Wang, Xiaoyu; Shi, Feng et al. (2014) Towards the clinical implementation of iterative low-dose cone-beam CT reconstruction in image-guided radiation therapy: cone/ring artifact correction and multiple GPU implementation. Med Phys 41:111912
Lu, Wenting; Yan, Hao; Gu, Xuejun et al. (2014) Reconstructing cone-beam CT with spatially varying qualities for adaptive radiotherapy: a proof-of-principle study. Phys Med Biol 59:6251-66
Cai, Jian-Feng; Jia, Xun; Gao, Hao et al. (2014) Cine cone beam CT reconstruction using low-rank matrix factorization: algorithm and a proof-of-principle study. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 33:1581-91
Yan, Hao; Zhen, Xin; Folkerts, Michael et al. (2014) A hybrid reconstruction algorithm for fast and accurate 4D cone-beam CT imaging. Med Phys 41:071903
Jia, Xun; Ziegenhein, Peter; Jiang, Steve B (2014) GPU-based high-performance computing for radiation therapy. Phys Med Biol 59:R151-82

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