Review of Deformable Image Registration for Clinical Application

Abstract

One of the characteristics of deformable image registration (DIR) is to detect anatomical coincidence points between two different images. The advantages of using DIR with radiotherapy are as follows. (1) to support the determination of the target using images of modality and series different from the treatment plan image, and (2) to evaluate the dose administered to the target and risk organs by summing the multiple dose distributions. Although DIR has been widely used in the field of external irradiation, application in the field of brachytherapy has been widespread in recent years. Also, the use of DIR is tried for quantitative assessment of anatomical changes over time during the treatment period and determination of the treatment effect after completion of treatment.

In this article, we describe the outline of the technique and the evidence of the current status about the application of DIR in clinical practice.