PET/CT rigid-body registration in radiation treatment planning settings: Phantom validation and strategy investigation

Abstract

Therapeutic outcomes from radiation treatment planning (RTP) may be improved by combining tumour metabolism data with anatomic location via PET/CT image fusion. The aim of this work is to reveal the spatial accuracy, reproducibility and speed of registration techniques used in Gemini PET/CT system as a part of quality assurance. A multi-layer alignment device and a Rando Man phantom were used to validate PET/CT intrinsic alignment. Known transformations were performed to simulate different misalignment between PET and CT phantom images. Point-based and image-based registration techniques used to correct misalignment were assessed and compared quantitatively by measuring absolute distances be..