Image-assisted knowledge discovery and decision support in radiation therapy planning.

The need for quantified knowledge and decision-support tools to handle complex radiation therapy (RT) imaging and informatics data is becoming steadily apparent. Lessons can be learned from current CAD applications in radiology. This paper proposes a methodology to develop this quantified knowledge and decision-support tools to facilitate RT treatment planning. The methodology is applied to cancer patient cases treated by intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The use of the "inverse treatment planning" and imaging intensive nature of IMRT allows for the development of such image-assisted tools for supporting decision-making thus providing better workflow efficiency and more precise dose predictions.