Early, non-invasive detection of radiation-induced lung injury using PET/CT by targeting CXCR4.

Purpose: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a severe side effect of radiotherapy (RT) for thoracic malignancies and we currently lack established methods for the early detection of RILI. In this study, we synthesized a new tracer, [F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04, targeting C-X-C-chemokine-receptor-type-4 (CXCR4) and investigated its feasibility to detect RILI.

Methods: An RILI rat model was constructed and scanned with [F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 PET/CT and [F]FDG PET/CT periodically after RT.

Inter-Observer and Intra-Observer Variability in Gross Tumor Volume Delineation of Primary Esophageal Carcinomas Based on Different Combinations of Diagnostic Multimodal Images.

Background And Purpose: This study aimed to investigate inter-/intra-observer delineation variability in GTVs of primary esophageal carcinomas (ECs) based on planning CT with reference to different combinations of diagnostic multimodal images from endoscopy/EUS, esophagography and FDG-PET/CT.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients with pathologically proven thoracic EC who underwent diagnostic multimodal images before concurrent chemoradiotherapy were enrolled. Five radiation oncologist independently delineated the GTVs based on planning CT only (GTV), CT combined with endoscopy/EUS (GTV), CT combined with endoscopy/EUS and esophagography (X-ray) (GTV), and CT combined with endoscopy/EUS, esophagography, and FDG-PET/CT (GTV).

Geometrical Comparison and Quantitative Evaluation of F-FDG PET/CT- and DW-MRI-Based Target Delineation Before and During Radiotherapy for Esophageal Squamous Carcinoma.

Background And Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the geometrical differences in and metabolic parameters of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (F-FDG PET-CT) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) performed before and during radiotherapy (RT) for patients with esophageal cancer based on the three-dimensional CT (3DCT) medium and explore whether the high signal area derived from DW-MRI can be used as a tool for an individualized definition of the volume in need of dose escalation for esophageal squamous cancer.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two patients with esophageal squamous cancer sequentially underwent repeated 3DCT, F-FDG PET-CT, and enhanced MRI before the initiation of RT and after the 15th fraction. All images were fused with 3DCT images through deformable registration.

Comparison of the Gross Target Volumes Based on Diagnostic PET/CT for Primary Esophageal Cancer.

Background: Clinically, many esophageal cancer patients who planned for radiation therapy have already undergone diagnostic Positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging, but it remains unclear whether these imaging results can be used to delineate the gross target volume (GTV) of the primary tumor for thoracic esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods: Seventy-two patients diagnosed with thoracic EC had undergone prior PET/CT for diagnosis and three-dimensional CT (3DCT) for simulation. The GTV was contoured on the 3DCT image without referencing the PET/CT image.

Using CT texture analysis to differentiate between peripheral lung cancer and pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor.

Background: This study is to distinguish peripheral lung cancer and pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor using CT-radiomics features extracted from PET/CT images.

Methods: In this study, the standard 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (18 F-FDG PET/CT) images of 21 patients with pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor (PIPT) and 21 patients with peripheral lung cancer were retrospectively collected. The dataset was used to extract CT-radiomics features from regions of interest (ROI), The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to screen the robust feature from all the radiomic features.

Comparison of gross target volumes based on four-dimensional CT, positron emission tomography-computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging in thoracic esophageal cancer.

Purpose: The application value of F-FDG PET-CT combined with MRI in the radiotherapy of esophageal carcinoma was discussed by comparing the differences in position, volume, and the length of GTVs delineated on the end-expiration (EE) phase of 4DCT, F-FDG PET-CT, and T W-MRI.

Methods: A total of 26 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer sequentially performed 3DCT, 4DCT, F-FDG PET-CT, and MRI simulation for thoracic localization. All images were fused with the 3DCT images by deformable registration.

Changes in cardiac volume determined with repeated enhanced 4DCT during chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is considered curative intent treatment for patients with non-operative esophageal cancer. Radiation-induced heart damage receives much attention. We performed repeated four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) to detect changes in cardiac volume during radiotherapy for esophageal cancer patients, and explored potential factors responsible for those changes.

Comparison of rigid and deformable registration through the respiratory phases of four-dimensional computed tomography image data sets for radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the geometric differences in gross tumor volume (GTV) and surgical clips propagated by rigid image registration (RIR) and deformable image registration (DIR) using a four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) image data set for patients treated with boost irradiation or accelerated partial breast irradiation after breast-conserving surgery (BCS).

Methods: The 4DCT data sets of 44 patients who had undergone BCS were acquired. GTV and selected clips were manually delineated on end-inhalation phase (CT0) and end-exhalation phase (CT50) images of 4DCT data sets.

Comparison of gross tumor volume of primary oesophageal cancer based on contrast-enhanced three-dimensional, four-dimensional, and cone beam computed tomography.

Background: To explore motion information included in 3DCT, 4DCT and CBCT by comparing volumetric and positional differences of GTV.

Results: Independent of tumor location, significant differences were observed among volumes [IGTV > (IGTV or IGTV) > (GTV or GTV)]. The underestimations or overestimations between IGTV and IGTV were larger than those between IGTV and IGTV ( < 0.

A comparative study of target volumes based on F-FDG PET-CT and ten phases of 4DCT for primary thoracic squamous esophageal cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the correlations in target volumes based on F-FDG PET/CT and four-dimensional CT (4DCT) to detect the feasibility of implementing PET in determining gross target volumes (GTV) for tumor motion for primary thoracic esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods: Thirty-three patients with EC sequentially underwent contrast-enhanced 3DCT, 4DCT, and F-FDG PET-CT thoracic simulation. The internal gross target volume (IGTV) was obtained by combining the GTV from ten phases of 4DCT.

Comparative evaluation of target volumes defined by deformable and rigid registration of diagnostic PET/CT to planning CT in primary esophageal cancer.

Background: To evaluate the geometrical differences of target volumes propagated by deformable image registration (DIR) and rigid image registration (RIR) to assist target volume delineation between diagnostic Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and planning CT for primary esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods: Twenty-five patients with EC sequentially underwent a diagnostic F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/CT scan and planning CT simulation. Only 19 patients with maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) ≥ 2.

Dosimetric impact of tumor bed delineation variability based on 4DCT scan for external-beam partial breast irradiation.

This study sought to evaluate the dosimetric impact of tumor bed delineation variability (based on clips, seroma or both clips and seroma) during external-beam partial breast irradiation (EB-PBI) planned utilizing four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans. 4DCT scans of 20 patients with a seroma clarity score (SCS) 3~5 and ≥5 surgical clips were included in this study. The combined volume of the tumor bed formed using clips, seroma, or both clips and seroma on the 10 phases of 4DCT was defined as the internal gross target volume (termed IGTVC, IGTVS and IGTVC+S, respectively).

Comparative evaluation of CT-based and PET/4DCT-based planning target volumes in the radiation of primary esophageal cancer.

Purpose: To compare planning target volume (PTV) defined by PET combined with 4DCT to 3DCT and 4DCT.

Methods: Eighteen (18/30) esophageal cancer patients who underwent 3DCT, 4DCT and (18)F-FDG PET-CT thoracic simulation with SUVmax≥2.0 of the primary volume were enrolled.

Interobserver variability in the delineation of the tumour bed using seroma and surgical clips based on 4DCT scan for external-beam partial breast irradiation.

Background: To explore the interobserver variability in the delineation of the tumour bed using seroma and surgical clips based on the four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scan for external-beam partial breast irradiation (EB-PBI) during free breathing.

Methods: Patients with a seroma clarity score (SCS) 3 ~ 5 and ≥5 surgical clips in the lumpectomy cavity after breast-conserving surgery who were recruited for EB-PBI underwent 4DCT simulation. Based on the ten sets of 4DCT images acquired, the tumour bed formed using the clips, the seroma, and both the clips and seroma (defined as TBC, TBS and TBC+S, respectively) were delineated by five radiation oncologists using specific guidelines.

Comparison of primary tumour volumes delineated on four-dimensional computed tomography maximum intensity projection and (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography images of non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: The study aims to compare the positional and volumetric differences of tumour volumes based on the maximum intensity projection (MIP) of four-dimensional CT (4DCT) and (18) F-fluorodexyglucose ((18) F-FDG) positron emission tomography CT (PET/CT) images for the primary tumour of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Ten patients with NSCLC underwent 4DCT and (18) F-FDG PET/CT scans of the thorax on the same day. Internal gross target volumes (IGTVs) of the primary tumours were contoured on the MIP images of 4DCT to generate IGTVMIP .

Comparison of primary target volumes delineated on four-dimensional CT and 18 F-FDG PET/CT of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: To determine the optimal threshold of 18 F-fluorodexyglucose (18 F-FDG) positron emission tomography CT (PET/CT) images that generates the best volumetric match to internal gross target volume (IGTV) based on four-dimensional CT (4DCT) images.

Methods: Twenty patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) underwent enhanced three-dimensional CT (3DCT) scan followed by enhanced 4DCT scan of the thorax under normal free breathing with the administration of intravenous contrast agents. A total of 100 ml of ioversol was injected intravenously, 2 ml/s for 3DCT and 1 ml/s for 4DCT.