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MAASTRO
PHYSICS
Memo
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Master students (Bio-) Medical Engineering, Applied Physics, etc.
Dr. ir. Wouter van Elmpt, MAASTRO CLINIC – Maastricht University Medical Centre+
April 2013
Project proposal for Bachelor thesis [approx. 3-6 months] or extended to a full
project proposal for Master thesis [approx. 9-12 months]
Project proposal: Defining optimal imaging time point for visualizing lung function and
tumor perfusion using dual energy CT imaging in lung cancer patients
Background
Maastro clinic is a world leading research facility in the fields of applied clinical radiotherapy. There is
a constant drive to provide the best, cutting edge treatment care to its patients. This appetite for
improvement also includes exploring new imaging modalities to optimize treatment delivery and
increase survival and favorable treatment outcome.
Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DCE-CT or perfusion CT) imaging together
with dual energy CT (DE-CT) are such imaging techniques that derives information about the
vasculature of normal and tumour tissues. Functional assessment of the kinetic parameters derived
from the perfusion CT images give information about tumour perfusion, blood volume and flow,
and permeability of the vessels (1-5). Whereas in the literature some CT perfusion studies were
hampered by the limited field-of-view (e.g. 3-5 cm) of the scanner in the cranial-caudal direction,
the technical infrastructure nowadays has the ability to capture dynamic CT scans of large volumes
up to 12 cm.
Project
This project will focus on the dynamic nature of CT perfusion imaging to allow quantification of the
timing of the contrast arrival in the various antomical structures (heart, pulmonary circulation,
lungs, heart, aorta, tumor, etc).(6) The blood circulation and tumor supply might be partially due
to the pulmonary or through the aorta. This can be investigated by using full dynamic perfusion CT.
From this, optimal timing can be derived for the dual energy CT imaging that can only be formed in
a single acquisition mode for the full field of view of the CT scan.
We will therefor implement these analysis routines in image analysis software (e.g. Matlab or a
commercial package) and analyse a number of patient that have had a perfusion CT scan. The endpoint will be a an investigation of the optimal timing characteristics of dual energy CT imaging for
both lung function and tumor characterization.
Techniques / Skills
Experience with imaging would be advantageous but not required. Programming experience using a
MATLAB or C++ (or equivalent) is useful. The project is a mix of both theoretical and practical
image analysis and can be extended using hands-on image acquisition on the latest state-of-theart CT scanners.
Report
As a report we aim to write a scientific manuscript that will be submitted to an international peerreviewed journal and an abstract (poster or presentation) to a scientific conference.
Supervisors
Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), Medical Physics:
- Dr. Ir. Wouter van Elmpt;
T: 088 44 55 783; E: [email protected]
Department of Radiology [Maastricht University Medical Centre]:
- Dr. Marco Das
Supervision / Organizational matters:
- Prof. Dr. Ir. Frank Verhaegen;
T: 088 44 55 792; E: [email protected]
MAASTRO
PHYSICS
Memo
Figure 1: Example of contrast enhancement curves for two regions inside the thorax.
Left image: tumor enhancement, middle image: CT scan, right image: aorta
enhancement.
General information
General information about graduation and MSc projects at Maastro Clinic can be obtained from
prof. Verhaegen ([email protected]).
Literature / Further reading
1. Ng QS, et al. Lung cancer perfusion at multi-detector row CT: reproducibility of whole tumor
quantitative measurements. Radiology. May 2006;239(2):547-553.
2. Ng QS, et al. Acute tumor vascular effects following fractionated radiotherapy in human lung
cancer: In vivo whole tumor assessment using volumetric perfusion computed tomography. Int J
Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. Feb 1 2007;67(2):417-424.
3. Miles KA, et al. Perfusion CT: a worthwhile enhancement? Br J Radiol. Apr 2003;76(904):220231.
4. Miles KA, et al. Standardized perfusion value: universal CT contrast enhancement scale that
correlates with FDG PET in lung nodules. Radiology. Aug 2001;220(2):548-553.
5. Chae EJ, et al. Prediction of Postoperative Lung Function in Patients Undergoing Lung Resection:
Dual-Energy Perfusion Computed Tomography Versus Perfusion Scintigraphy. Investigative
radiology. Mar 27 2013.
6. Henzler T, et al. Dual-energy CT angiography of the lungs: comparison of test bolus and bolus
tracking techniques for the determination of scan delay. Eur J Radiol. Jan 2012;81(1):132-138.