Practical assessment of bronchoscopically inserted fiducial markers for image guidance in stereotactic lung radiotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Stereotactic radiotherapy is a high-dose precision technique necessitating accurate target visualization through either cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) or planar imaging with implanted fiducial markers. We have investigated the properties for image guidance using fiducial markers implanted through minimally invasive bronchoscopi. Methods: Two fiducial marker types were implanted endobronchially in 10 patients undergoing radical radiation treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (eight using Visicoil linear fiducial markers [IBA Dosimetry GmbH, Schwarzenbruck Germany] and two using superDimension and superLock two-band markers [Covidien Inc., Minneapolis, MN]). Patients und..