Directional scatter imaging for the stereoscopic tracking of fiducial markers in a single kV exposure.

PURPOSE

To demonstrate, via Monte Carlo simulation, that an image obtained from the patient-generated scattered radiation forced to impinge on the detector from a known direction by means of parallel-focused grids, can be used to complement the information conveyed by the primary image, such that accurate stereoscopic three-dimensional localization of fiducial markers can be achieved in a single kV x-ray exposure.

METHODS

A voxelized Zubal phantom was used to model the process of fiducial marker localization. The markers were represented as made of gold and cylindrical in shape with dimensions of 5 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter. Three such markers were placed in the Zubal phantom at the prostate level. Two gantry-mounted image acquisition geometries were modeled: a single kV imaging system and a dual kV-MV imaging system. The detector was modeled as a 30 cm × 40 cm Gd O S screen with a thickness of 0.2 cm and a resolution of 768 × 1024 pixels. The PENELOPE Monte Carlo code was used to calculate the absorbed dose in this detector imparted by the transmitted primary and directional scatter radiation. A grayscale conversion was then applied to obtain an image from which the positions of the markers were determined. Two parallel-focused grid geometries were modeled, one based on the standard lead-carbon fiber grids and a proposed modification using tungsten as the shielding material. Absorbed dose in the patient model was also calculated.

RESULTS

It is shown that the combination of primary and directional scatter images provides the means for an accurate stereoscopic fiducial marker 3D localization in a single x-ray exposure, provided the antiscatter grids are made thick enough to allow radiation traveling only in a particular direction to reach the detector. For the proposed tungsten grid and the x-ray spectrum used in this work, grid ratios of 20 and thickness of 0.2 cm, provide the necessary shielding while for the standard lead grids, a ratio of at least 166 and a thickness of 2 cm are needed to obtain discernible directional scatter images.

CONCLUSIONS

We have shown that it is in principle possible to determine the 3D position of fiducial markers in a single exposure by making use of the radiation scattered by the patient to form an image that complements the information obtained with the primary beam. The method here proposed requires minimal modification of existing clinical hardware.