Volumetric rigid MR-CT registration for glioblastoma in radiation oncology: A Novel approach

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is a highly aggressive and rapidly growing grade IV astrocytoma that originates from astrocytes and causes a diverse range of neurological problems by infiltratingsurrounding brain tissue. Image guided radiotherapy is a crucial treatment option for GBM; however, precise target delineation is critical for efficient treatment in the presence of noise and distortion in the magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) images. Multimodal image registration, which generates aligned or fused images from different modalities, can enhance target delineation accuracy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of volumetric multimodal MR-CT rigid registration algorithms for the patients with GBM and to enhance the success of radiotherapy treatment responses by employing visual inspection and statistical assessment of the registered images. Specialized algorithms were developed to attain volumetric registration, leading to an enhanced target delineation for radiation treatment. The crucial role of multimodal rigid registration in improving the accuracy of target delineation in the context of radiation oncology for GBM was underscored by this study.