Assessment of 4D Ultrasound Systems for Image-guided Radiation Therapy – Image Quality, Framerates and CT Artifacts

Abstract: 4D ultrasound (4D US) is gaining relevance as a tracking method in radiation therapy (RT) with modern matrix array probes offering new possibilities for real-time target detection. However, for clinical implementation of USguided RT, image quality, volumetric framerate and artifacts caused by the probe’s presence during planning and/or setup computed tomography (CT) must be quantified. We compared three diagnostic 4D US systems with matrix array probes using a commercial wire phantom to measure spatial resolution as well as a calibration and a torso phantom to assess different image quality metrics. CT artifacts were quantified in the torso phantom by calculating the total variation and percentage of affected voxels between a reference CT scan and CT scans with probes in place. We found that state-of-the-art 4D US systems with small probes can fit inside the CT bore and cause fewer metal artifacts than larger probes. US image quality varies between systems and is task-dependent. Volume sizes and framerates are much higher than the commercial guidance solution for US-guided RT, warranting further investigation regarding clinical performance for image guidance.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Assessment of 4D Ultrasound Systems for Image-guided Radiation Therapy – Image Quality, Framerates and CT Artifacts ; volume:5 ; number:1 ; year:2019 ; pages:245-248 ; extent:4 ; Current directions in biomedical engineering ; 5, Heft 1 (2019), 245-248 (gesamt 4)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Ipsen, Svenja ; Bruder, Ralf ; García-Vázquez, Verónica ; Schweikard, Achim ; Ernst, Floris

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/cdbme-2019-0062
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022101214581413541157
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:21 AM CEST