Use of maximum intensity projections (MIPs) for target outlining in 4dct radiotherapy planning

Abstract

Introduction: Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) is currently being introduced to radiotherapy centers worldwide, for use in radical radiotherapy planning for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A significant drawback is the time required to delineate 10 individual CT scans for each patient. Every department will hence ask the question if the single Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) scan can be used as an alternative. Although the problems regarding the use of the MIP in node-positive disease have been discussed in the literature, a comprehensive study assessing its use has not been published. We compared an internal target volume (ITV) created using the MIP to an ITV created from the composite volume of 10 clinical target volumes (CTVs) delineated on the 10 phases of the 4DCT. Methods: 4DCT data was collected from 14 patients with NSCLC. In each patient, the ITV was delineated on the MIP image (ITV-MIP) and a composite ITV created from the 10 CTVs delineated on each of the 10 scans in the dataset. The structures were compared by assessment of volumes of overlap and exclusion. Results: There was a median of 19.0% (range, 5.5-35.4%) of the volume of ITV-10phase not enclosed by the ITV-MIP, demonstrating that the use of the MIP could result in under-treatment of disease. In contrast only a very small amount of the ITV-MIP was not enclosed by the ITV-10phase (median of 2.3%, range, 0.4-9.8%), indicating the ITV-10phase covers almost all of the tumor tissue as identified by MIP. Although there were only two Stage I patients, both demonstrated very similar ITV-10phase and ITV-MIP volumes. These findings suggest that Stage I NSCLC tumors could be outlined on the MIP alone. In Stage II and III tumors the ITV-10phase would be more reliable. Conclusions: To prevent under-treatment of disease, the MIP image can only be used for delineation in Stage I tumors. © 2008 by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.