CBCT Image-Quality Improvement Methods for Adaptive Radiation Therapy

Abstract

The introduction of image guidance in radiation therapy has resulted in significant advances in cancer treatment precision. In image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), techniques such as portal imaging, on-board imaging (OBI), CBCT, and MRI can be used to position the patient precisely based on the internal anatomy. These technological advances allow for more precise delivery of radiation doses to the tumor volume while simultaneously reducing the impact of radiation on surrounding normal tissue. Each image-guided device has its own advantages and disadvantages. This article focuses on CBCT because of its wide availability and potential application in adaptive radiotherapy. Following a discussion of factors that degrade CBCT image quality, previous studies on improving CBCT image-quality in adaptive radiation therapy will be reviewed. The review will present the results and effectiveness of several recently-focused deep-learning-based methods implemented on clinical data.