Optimal Localization through DSA Distortion Correction for SRS

신경 외과적 수술의 한분야인 정위적 방사선 수술은 두 개강 내의 병변의 위치 계산 후, 고선량의 방사선을 조사하여 병변을 치료하는 방법이기 때문에, 효과적인 수술을 위해서는 병변의 정확한 위치 정보가 무엇보다도 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 DSA(Digital Subtraction Angiography) 영상이 내재적으로 이미지 왜곡이라는 문제점을 가지고 있기 때문에, 이것의 보정을 통하여 더욱 정확한 target 위치를 계산하였다 이미지 왜곡을 보정하기 위하여 grid 팬텀을 제작하였고, localization 알고리즘의 정확도를 평가하기 위하여, target 팬텀을 제작하였다. Image Intensifier의 앞쪽에 grid 팬텀을 부착하고, target 팬텀을 Leksell Frame에 고정시킨 후, DSA 영상을 얻었다. 본 실험을 위하여 개발된 프로그램을 이용하여, Anterior and Posterior, Left and Right 영상에서 bilinear transform을 적용하여 왜곡을 보정한 후, target 위치를 계산하였다. 그리고, 이와 같은 방법을 통하여 계산된 target 위치 좌표와 target 팬텀의 절대 좌표의 비교를 통하여 localization 오차가 계산되었다. 이번 실험의 결과는 왜곡을 보정하지 않은 경우, localization 오차는 $\pm$0.41mm, 왜곡 보정을 한 경우는 $\pm$0.34mm이었다. 따라서 본 연구에서 개발된 알고리즘 정밀도가 인정되며, 환자의 치료에 적합한 것으로 사료된다.

In Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), there are three imaging methods of target localization, such as digital subtraction Angiography (DSA), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Especially, DSA and MR images have a distortion effect generated by each modality. In this research, image properties of DSA were studied. A first essential condition in SRS is an accurate information of target locations, since high dose used to treat a patient may give a complication on critical organ and normal tissue. Hut previous localization program did not consider distortion effect which was caused by image intensifier (II) of DSA. A neurosurgeon could not have an accurate information of target locations to operate a patient. In this research, through distortion correction, we tried to calculate accurate target locations. We made a grid phantom to correct distortion, and a target phantom to evaluate localization algorithm. The grid phantom was set on the front of II, and DSA images were obtained. Distortion correction methods consist of two parts: 1. Bilinear transform for geometrical correction and bilinear interpolation for gray level correction. 2. Automatic detection method for calculating locations of grid crosses, fiducial markers, and target balls. Distortion was corrected by applying bilinear transform and bilinear interpolation to anterior-posterior and left-right image, and locations of target and fiducial markers were calculated by the program developed in this study. Localization errors were estimated by comparing target locations calculated in DSA images with absolute locations of target phantom. In the result, the error in average with and without distortion correction is $\pm$0.34 mm and $\pm$0.41 mm respectively. In conclusion, it could be verified that our localization algorithm has an improved accuracy and acceptability to patient treatment.