Quantifying stranded implant displacement following prostate brachytherapy

Abstract

We aim to compute radioactive stranded-implant displacement during and after prostate brachytherapy. We present the methods used to identify corresponding seeds in planned, intra-operative and post-implant patient data that enable us to compute seed displacements. A minimum cost network flow algorithm is used, on 8 patients, for needle track detection to group seeds into needles that can be matched between datasets. An iterative best line detection algorithm is used both to help with needle detection and to register the different datasets. Our results show that there was an average seed misplacement of 5.08±2.35 mm during the procedure, which then moved another 3.10±1.91 mm by the time the quality assurance CT was taken. Several directional trends in different regions of the prostate were noted and commented on. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.