Feasibility, detectability and clinical experience with platinum fiducial seeds for MRI/CT fusion and real-time tumor tracking during CyberKnife stereotactic ablative radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to review our experience with platinum fiducials in terms of feasibility of placement and detectability by both MRI and orthogonal x-ray images used in robotic SABR.Materials and Methods: 29 consecutive SABR patients (30 tumors) treated using fiducial tracking between January 2011 and February 2012 were reviewed. A total of 108 fiducials implanted in or around various tumor sites were identified. The pixel value contrast (PVC) of fiducials seen on MRI mages and treatment unit x-ray images of patients and phantoms were analysed.

RESULTS

Migration rates were similar for PS versus GS and GC (6.2%). No difference was noted between the mean PVC in cirrhotic versus non-cirrhotic liver (60.4 vs. 47.9; p = 0.074). MRI sequences for tumors in the liver and other organs revealed a mean PVC for platinum superior to that of gold (p<0.001). No PVC difference was seen between gold and platinum on analysis of the treatment unit x-rays.

CONCLUSION

Platinum seeds provide a superior detectability in comparison to gold seeds or coils on MRI images and are detected equally well by an image guidance system using orthogonal x-rays, making them a better choice for fiducial-based CT-MRI registration.