PRESENTATIONS:
• Functional CT: Visualization of Dynamic Processes
Using Computed Tomography

• Image Guided Radiotherapy of Moving Targets

SPEAKERS:
• George Chen, PhD; MGH
• Rajiv Gupta, MD, PhD; MGH, HMS      

(No Video Available)

FORUM REPORT:

Two accomplished researchers in radiotherapy and radiology presented at the CIMIT Forum on Jan. 16 at Simches Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.

George Chen, Ph.D., director of radiation physics, Department of Radiation Oncology at MGH, and professor of radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School, spoke on “Image Guided Radiotherapy of Moving Targets.”

Rajiv Gupta, M.D., Ph.D., resident in radiology, MGH, and Harvard Medical School, discussed “Functional CT: Visualization of Dynamic Processes Using Computed Tomography.”

Dr. Chen said that accurate irridation of moving targets (movement of body by breathing or other natural activity) requires new technologies.

He said radiation treatment planning is evolving toward 4D calculations, and image-guided radiotherapy is being introduced into the radiotherapy clinic.

In this technique, the patient is imaged just before each treatment, and adjustments are made for setup inaccuracy as well as changes in target position. He outlined tools to achieve and validate 4D RT.

Dr. Gupta said that the future could be promising for the advent of flat-panel detector-based CT (computed tomography), with its ability to perform whole organ imaging.

“Flat-panel detectors are widely used for fluoroscopy and radiography,” said Dr. Gupta. “Their use in CT is new. The cost to the hospital should be no different from the regular CT.

“I am working on the clinical applications of this technology. If we can prove some key clinical applications, this may become the preferred way of doing CT.”

Moderators were Jacob Flanz, Ph.D. director, Northeast Proton Therapy Center, MGH; assistant professor of radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School; and Kirby Vosburgh, Ph.D., associate director, liaison, Department of Defense; Site Miner, MIT; and chair of Program Development, at CIMIT.