Computed Tomography Angiography of the Aorta-Optimization of Automatic Tube Voltage Selection Settings to Reduce Radiation Dose or Contrast Medium in a Prospective Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the image quality of low-kV protocols with optimized automatic tube voltage selection (ATVS) settings to reduce either radiation dose or contrast medium (CM) with that of a reference protocol for computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the thoracoabdominal aorta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this institutional review board-approved, single-center, prospective randomized controlled trial, 126 patients receiving CTA of the aorta were allocated to one of three computed tomography protocols: (A) reference protocol at 120 kVp and standard weight-adapted CM dose; (B) protocol at 90 kVp, reduced radiation and standard CM dose; and (C) protocol at 90 kVp, standard radiation and reduced CM dose. All three protocols were performed on a third-generation dual-source computed tomography scanner using the semimode of the ATVS system. The image-task-dependent optimization settings of the ATVS (slider level) were adjusted to level 11 (high-contrast task) for protocols A and B and level 3 (low-contrast task) for protocol C. Radiation dose parameters were assessed. The contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) of protocols B and C were tested for noninferiority compared with A. Subjective image quality was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Size-specific dose estimate was 34.3% lower for protocol B compared with A (P < 0.0001). Contrast medium was 20.2% lower for protocol C compared with A (P < 0.0001). Mean CNR in B and C was noninferior to protocol A (CNR of 30.2 ± 7, 33.4 ± 6.7, and 30.5 ± 8.9 for protocols A, B, and C, respectively). There was no significant difference in overall subjective image quality among protocols (4.09 ± 0.21, 4.03 ± 0.19, and 4.08 ± 0.17 for protocols A, B, and C, respectively; P = 0.4). CONCLUSIONS: The slider settings of an ATVS system can be adjusted to optimize either radiation dose or CM at noninferior image quality in low-kV CTA of the aorta. This optimization could be used to extend future ATVS algorithms to take clinical risk factors like kidney function of individual patients into account.

Technical Note: Radiation dose reduction from computed tomography localizer radiographs using a tin spectral shaping filter.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possibility of lowering radiation dose from a localizer radiograph (LR) using a tin spectral shaping filter and to investigate the effect of this adaptation on the radiation dose and image quality of subsequent computed tomography (CT) examination. METHODS: The study utilized a set of semianthropomorphic abdomen phantoms, representing small, medium, and large patients. The LR scans were performed with and without a tin spectral shaping filter using various kVp/mA settings. The tube current values of spiral CT examinations following the LR were assessed to evaluate the effect of LR settings on automatic exposure control (AEC). The image quality of CT examinations with various LRs was evaluated by measuring image noise in several regions-of-interest. Organ dose values from LR scans were derived from Monte Carlo simulations performed on a set of virtual anthropomorphic phantoms and the effective dose (ED) values were calculated. RESULTS: The radiation dose from the LR can be strongly reduced by using a tin spectral shaping filter (P < 0.001). The optimal settings of the LR scan depend on the size of the scanned subject: for small and medium size subjects, the combination of a tin spectral shaping filter with 100 kVp and 20 mA resulted in the lowest possible radiation dose (ED = 0.007 mGy) without compromising the AEC and image quality of subsequent CT. In contrast, the LR settings of 100 kVp with a tin spectral shaping filter and the tube current values of 20 and 35 mA in large subject (47.4 cm in diameter) resulted in significant variation of the TCM values (11.1% and 8.4%, respectively) and the corresponding increase of noise by >5% in subsequent CT examination. For all investigated phantom sizes, the combination of 100 Sn kV with a tin spectral shaping filter and tube current values of 75 mA results in the lowest possible radiation dose, while still keeping the AEC function unchanged. CONCLUSION: The study indicated that tin spectral shaping filtration can be applied to LRs for radiation dose reduction, but such adaptation needs to take patient size into account.

Metal Artifact Reduction on Chest Computed Tomography Examinations: Comparison of the Iterative Metallic Artefact Reduction Algorithm and the Monoenergetic Approach.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare iterative metallic artefact reduction (iMAR) and monochromatic imaging on metal artifact reduction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Follow-up of 29 occluded pulmonary arteriovenous malformations was obtained with dual-energy computed tomography with reconstruction of averaged images using filtered back projection (group 1), iMAR (group 2), and creation of high-energy monoenergetic images (group 3). Two types of coils had been used: (a) nickel only (group A, n = 18) and (b) nickel and platinum (group B, n = 11). RESULTS: Compared with group 1, groups 2 and 3 images showed significant reduction in artifact severity. Compared with group 3, group 2 images showed less artifacts on subjective (artifact severity score: P = 0.0118; score of visibility of surrounding structures: P = 0.0056) and objective (artifact attenuation: P < 0.0001) analyses. In group A, there was no significant difference in artifact severity between groups 2 and 3 images (P > 0.05). In group B, metal artifacts were only significantly reduced in group 2 images. CONCLUSIONS: Iterative metallic artefact reduction reduces metal artifacts more efficiently than monoenergetic imaging.

Effect of Localizer Radiography Projection on Organ Dose at Chest CT with Automatic Tube Current Modulation.

Purpose To calculate the effect of localizer radiography projections to the total radiation dose, including both the dose from localizer radiography and that from subsequent chest computed tomography (CT) with tube current modulation (TCM). Materials and Methods An anthropomorphic phantom was scanned with 192-section CT without and with differently sized breast attachments. Chest CT with TCM was performed after one localizer radiographic examination with anteroposterior (AP) or posteroanterior (PA) projections. Dose distributions were obtained by means of Monte Carlo simulations based on acquired CT data. For Monte Carlo simulations of localizer radiography, the tube position was fixed at 0° and 180°; for chest CT, a spiral trajectory with TCM was used. The effect of tube start angles on dose distribution was investigated with Monte Carlo simulations by using TCM curves with fixed start angles (0°, 90°, and 180°). Total doses for lungs, heart, and breast were calculated as the sum of the dose from localizer radiography and CT. Image noise was defined as the standard deviation of attenuation measured in 14 circular regions of interest. The Wilcoxon signed rank test, paired t test, and Friedman analysis of variance were conducted to evaluate differences in noise, TCM curves, and organ doses, respectively. Results Organ doses from localizer radiography were lower when using a PA instead of an AP projection (P = .005). The use of a PA projection resulted in higher TCM values for chest CT (P < .001) owing to the higher attenuation (P < .001) and thus resulted in higher total organ doses for all investigated phantoms and protocols (P < .001). Noise in CT images was lower with PA localizer radiography than with AP localizer radiography (P = .03). The use of an AP projection allowed for total dose reductions of 16%, 15%, and 12% for lungs, breast, and heart, respectively. Differences in organ doses were not related to tube start angles (P = .17). Conclusion The total organ doses are higher when using PA projection localizer radiography owing to higher TCM values, whereas the organ doses from PA localizer radiography alone are lower. Thus, PA localizer radiography should be used in combination with reduced reference tube current at subsequent chest CT. © RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Iterative metal artifact reduction improves dose calculation accuracy : Phantom study with dental implants.

PURPOSE: Metallic dental implants cause severe streaking artifacts in computed tomography (CT) data, which affect the accuracy of dose calculations in radiation therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the benefit of the metal artifact reduction algorithm iterative metal artifact reduction (iMAR) in terms of correct representation of Hounsfield units (HU) and dose calculation accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Heterogeneous phantoms consisting of different types of tissue equivalent material surrounding metallic dental implants were designed. Artifact-containing CT data of the phantoms were corrected using iMAR. Corrected and uncorrected CT data were compared to synthetic CT data to evaluate accuracy of HU reproduction. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were calculated in Oncentra v4.3 on corrected and uncorrected CT data and compared to Gafchromic™ EBT3 films to assess accuracy of dose calculation. RESULTS: The use of iMAR increased the accuracy of HU reproduction. The average deviation of HU decreased from 1006 HU to 408 HU in areas including metal and from 283 HU to 33 HU in tissue areas excluding metal. Dose calculation accuracy could be significantly improved for all phantoms and plans: The mean passing rate for gamma evaluation with 3 % dose tolerance and 3 mm distance to agreement increased from 90.6 % to 96.2 % if artifacts were corrected by iMAR. CONCLUSION: The application of iMAR allows metal artifacts to be removed to a great extent which leads to a significant increase in dose calculation accuracy.

Clinical evaluation of the iterative metal artifact reduction algorithm for CT simulation in radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To clinically evaluate an iterative metal artifact reduction (IMAR) algorithm prototype in the radiation oncology clinic setting by testing for accuracy in CT number retrieval, relative dosimetric changes in regions affected by artifacts, and improvements in anatomical and shape conspicuity of corrected images. METHODS: A phantom with known material inserts was scanned in the presence/absence of metal with different configurations of placement and sizes. The relative change in CT numbers from the reference data (CT with no metal) was analyzed. The CT studies were also used for dosimetric tests where dose distributions from both photon and proton beams were calculated. Dose differences and gamma analysis were calculated to quantify the relative changes between doses calculated on the different CT studies. Data from eight patients (all different treatment sites) were also used to quantify the differences between dose distributions before and after correction with IMAR, with no reference standard. A ranking experiment was also conducted to analyze the relative confidence of physicians delineating anatomy in the near vicinity of the metal implants. RESULTS: IMAR corrected images proved to accurately retrieve CT numbers in the phantom study, independent of metal insert configuration, size of the metal, and acquisition energy. For plastic water, the mean difference between corrected images and reference images was -1.3 HU across all scenarios (N = 37) with a 90% confidence interval of [-2.4, -0.2] HU. While deviations were relatively higher in images with more metal content, IMAR was able to effectively correct the CT numbers independent of the quantity of metal. Residual errors in the CT numbers as well as some induced by the correction algorithm were found in the IMAR corrected images. However, the dose distributions calculated on IMAR corrected images were closer to the reference data in phantom studies. Relative spatial difference in the dose distributions in the regions affected by the metal artifacts was also observed in patient data. However, in absence of a reference ground truth (CT set without metal inserts), these differences should not be interpreted as improvement/deterioration of the accuracy of calculated dose. With limited data presented, it was observed that proton dosimetry was affected more than photons as expected. Physicians were significantly more confident contouring anatomy in the regions affected by artifacts. While site specific preferences were detected, all indicated that they would consistently use IMAR corrected images. CONCLUSIONS: IMAR correction algorithm could be readily implemented in an existing clinical workflow upon commercial release. While residual errors still exist in IMAR corrected images, these images present with better overall conspicuity of the patient/phantom geometry and offer more accurate CT numbers for improved local dosimetry. The variety of different scenarios included herein attest to the utility of the evaluated IMAR for a wide range of radiotherapy clinical scenarios.

Iterative metal artifact reduction: evaluation and optimization of technique.

OBJECTIVE: Iterative metal artifact reduction (IMAR) is a sinogram inpainting technique that incorporates high-frequency data from standard weighted filtered back projection (WFBP) reconstructions to reduce metal artifact on computed tomography (CT). This study was designed to compare the image quality of IMAR and WFBP in total shoulder arthroplasties (TSA); determine the optimal amount of WFBP high-frequency data needed for IMAR; and compare image quality of the standard 3D technique with that of a faster 2D technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients with nine TSA underwent CT with standardized parameters: 140 kVp, 300 mAs, 0.6 mm collimation and slice thickness, and B30 kernel. WFBP, three 3D IMAR algorithms with different amounts of WFBP high-frequency data (IMARlo, lowest; IMARmod, moderate; IMARhi, highest), and one 2D IMAR algorithm were reconstructed. Differences in attenuation near hardware and away from hardware were measured and compared using repeated measures ANOVA. Five readers independently graded image quality; scores were compared using Friedman's test. RESULTS: Attenuation differences were smaller with all 3D IMAR techniques than with WFBP (p < 0.0063). With increasing high-frequency data, the attenuation difference increased slightly (differences not statistically significant). All readers ranked IMARmod and IMARhi more favorably than WFBP (p < 0.05), with IMARmod ranked highest for most structures. The attenuation difference was slightly higher with 2D than with 3D IMAR, with no significant reader preference for 3D over 2D. CONCLUSIONS: IMAR significantly decreases metal artifact compared to WFBP both objectively and subjectively in TSA. The incorporation of a moderate amount of WFBP high-frequency data and use of a 2D reconstruction technique optimize image quality and allow for relatively short reconstruction times.

Metal artefact reduction from dental hardware in carotid CT angiography using iterative reconstructions.

PURPOSE: To determine the value of a metal artefact reduction (MAR) algorithm with iterative reconstructions for dental hardware in carotid CT angiography. METHODS: Twenty-four patients (six of which were women; mean age 70 ± 12 years) with dental hardware undergoing carotid CT angiography were included. Datasets were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and using a MAR algorithm employing normalisation and an iterative frequency-split (IFS) approach. Three blinded, independent readers measured CT attenuation values and evaluated image quality and degrees of artefacts using axial images, multi-planar reformations (MPRs) and maximal intensity projections (MIP) of the carotid arteries. RESULTS: CT attenuation values of the internal carotid artery on images with metal artefacts were significantly higher in FBP (324 ± 104HU) datasets compared with those reconstructed with IFS (278 ± 114HU; P < 0.001) and with FBP on images without metal artefacts (293 ± 106HU; P = 0.006). Quality of IFS images was rated significantly higher on axial, MPR and MIP images (P < 0.05, each), and readers found significantly less artefacts impairing the diagnostic confidence of the internal carotid artery (P < 0.05, each). CONCLUSION: The MAR algorithm with the IFS approach allowed for a significant reduction of artefacts from dental hardware in carotid CT angiography, hereby increasing image quality and improving the accuracy of CT attenuation measurements. KEY POINTS: • CT angiography of the neck has proven value for evaluating carotid disease • Neck CT angiography images are often degraded by artefacts from dental implants • A metal artefact reduction algorithm with iterative reconstruction reduces artefacts significantly • Visualisation of the internal carotid artery is improved.

Reduction of metal artifacts from hip prostheses on CT images of the pelvis: value of iterative reconstructions.

PURPOSE: To assess the value of iterative frequency split-normalized (IFS) metal artifact reduction (MAR) for computed tomography (CT) of hip prostheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study had institutional review board and local ethics committee approval. First, a hip phantom with steel and titanium prostheses that had inlays of water, fat, and contrast media in the pelvis was used to optimize the IFS algorithm. Second, 41 consecutive patients with hip prostheses who were undergoing CT were included. Data sets were reconstructed with filtered back projection, the IFS algorithm, and a linear interpolation MAR algorithm. Two blinded, independent readers evaluated axial, coronal, and sagittal CT reformations for overall image quality, image quality of pelvic organs, and assessment of pelvic abnormalities. CT attenuation and image noise were measured. Statistical analysis included the Friedman test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Levene test. RESULTS: Ex vivo experiments demonstrated an optimized IFS algorithm by using a threshold of 2200 HU with four iterations for both steel and titanium prostheses. Measurements of CT attenuation of the inlays were significantly (P < .001) more accurate for IFS when compared with filtered back projection. In patients, best overall and pelvic organ image quality was found in all reformations with IFS (P < .001). Pelvic abnormalities in 11 of 41 patients (27%) were diagnosed with significantly (P = .002) higher confidence on the basis of IFS images. CT attenuation of bladder (P < .001) and muscle (P = .043) was significantly less variable with IFS compared with filtered back projection and linear interpolation MAR. In comparison with that of FBP and linear interpolation MAR, noise with IFS was similar close to and far from the prosthesis (P = .295). CONCLUSION: The IFS algorithm for CT image reconstruction significantly reduces metal artifacts from hip prostheses, improves the reliability of CT number measurements, and improves the confidence for depicting pelvic abnormalities.

Comparison of a multileaf collimator tracking system and a robotic treatment couch tracking system for organ motion compensation during radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: One limitation of accurate dose delivery in radiotherapy is intrafractional movement of the tumor or the entire patient which may lead to an underdosage of the target tissue or an overdosage of adjacent organs at risk. In order to compensate for this movement, different techniques have been developed. In this study the tracking performances of a multileaf collimator (MLC) tracking system and a robotic treatment couch tracking system were compared under equal conditions. METHODS: MLC tracking was performed using a tracking system based on the Siemens 160 MLC. A HexaPOD robotic treatment couch tracking system was also installed at the same linac. A programmable 4D motion stage was used to reproduce motion trajectories with different target phantoms. Motion localization of the target was provided by the 4D tracking system of Calypso Medical Inc. The gained positional data served as input signal for the control systems of the MLC and HexaPOD tracking systems attempting to compensate for the target motion. The geometric and dosimetric accuracy for the tracking of eight different respiratory motion trajectories was investigated for both systems. The dosimetric accuracy of both systems was also evaluated for the tracking of five prostate motion trajectories. RESULTS: For the respiratory motion the average root mean square error of all trajectories in y direction was reduced from 4.1 to 2.0 mm for MLC tracking and to 2.2 mm for HexaPOD tracking. In x direction it was reduced from 1.9 to 0.9 mm (MLC) and to 1.0 mm (HexaPOD). The average 2%/2 mm gamma pass rate for the respiratory motion trajectories was increased from 76.4% for no tracking to 89.8% and 95.3% for the MLC and the HexaPOD tracking systems, respectively. For the prostate motion trajectories the average 2%/2 mm gamma pass rate was 60.1% when no tracking was applied and was improved to 85.0% for MLC tracking and 95.3% for the HexaPOD tracking system. CONCLUSIONS: Both systems clearly increased the geometric and dosimetric accuracy during tracking of respiratory motion trajectories. Thereby, the geometric accuracy was increased almost equally by both systems, whereas the dosimetric accuracy of the HexaPOD tracking system was slightly better for all considered respiratory motion trajectories. Substantial improvement of the dosimetric accuracy was also observed during tracking of prostate motion trajectories during an intensity-modulated radiotherapy plan. Thereby, the HexaPOD tracking system showed better results than the MLC tracking.

Multileaf collimator tracking integrated with a novel x-ray imaging system and external surrogate monitoring.

We have previously developed a tumour tracking system, which adapts the aperture of a Siemens 160 MLC to electromagnetically monitored target motion. In this study, we exploit the use of a novel linac-mounted kilovoltage x-ray imaging system for MLC tracking. The unique in-line geometry of the imaging system allows the detection of target motion perpendicular to the treatment beam (i.e. the directions usually featuring steep dose gradients). We utilized the imaging system either alone or in combination with an external surrogate monitoring system. We equipped a Siemens ARTISTE linac with two flat panel detectors, one directly underneath the linac head for motion monitoring and the other underneath the patient couch for geometric tracking accuracy assessments. A programmable phantom with an embedded metal marker reproduced three patient breathing traces. For MLC tracking based on x-ray imaging alone, marker position was detected at a frame rate of 7.1 Hz. For the combined external and internal motion monitoring system, a total of only 85 x-ray images were acquired prior to or in between the delivery of ten segments of an IMRT beam. External motion was monitored with a potentiometer. A correlation model between external and internal motion was established. The real-time component of the MLC tracking procedure then relied solely on the correlation model estimations of internal motion based on the external signal. Geometric tracking accuracies were 0.6 mm (1.1 mm) and 1.8 mm (1.6 mm) in directions perpendicular and parallel to the leaf travel direction for the x-ray-only (the combined external and internal) motion monitoring system in spite of a total system latency of ~0.62 s (~0.51 s). Dosimetric accuracy for a highly modulated IMRT beam--assessed through radiographic film dosimetry--improved substantially when tracking was applied, but depended strongly on the respective geometric tracking accuracy. In conclusion, we have for the first time integrated MLC tracking with x-ray imaging in the in-line geometry and demonstrated highly accurate respiratory motion tracking.

Position detection accuracy of a novel linac-mounted intrafractional x-ray imaging system.

PURPOSE: The authors have developed a system that monitors intrafractional target motion perpendicular to the treatment beam with the aid of radioopaque markers by means of separating kV image and megavoltage (MV) treatment field on a single flat-panel detector. METHODS: They equipped a research Siemens Artiste linear accelerator (linac) with a 41 × 41 cm(2) a-Si flat-panel detector underneath the treatment head. The in-line geometry allows kV (imaging) and MV (treatment) beams to share closely aligned beam axes. The kV source, usually mounted directly across from the flat-panel imager, was retracted toward the gantry by 13 cm to intentionally misalign kV and MV beams, resulting in a geometric separation of MV treatment field and kV image on the detector. Two consecutive images acquired within 140 ms (the first with MV-only and the second with kV and MV signal) were subtracted to generate a kV-only image. The images were then analyzed "online" with an automated threshold-based marker detection algorithm. They employed a 3D and a 4D phantom equipped with either a single radioopaque marker or three Calypso beacons to mimic respiratory motion. Measured room positions were either cross-referenced with a phantom voltage signal (single marker) or the Calypso system. The accuracy of the back-projection (from detected marker positions into room coordinates) was verified by a simulation study. RESULTS: A phantom study has demonstrated that the imaging framework is capable of automatically detecting marker positions and sending this information to the tracking tool at an update rate of 7.14 Hz. The system latency is 86.9 ± 1.0 ms for single marker detection in the absence of MV radiation. In the presence of a circular MV field of 5 cm diameter, the latency is 87.1 ± 0.9 ms. The total RMS position detection accuracy is 0.20 mm (without MV radiation) and 0.23 mm (with MV). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the evaluated motion patterns and MV field size, the positional accuracy and system latency indicate that this system is suitable for real-time adaptive applications.

Electromagnetic real-time tumor position monitoring and dynamic multileaf collimator tracking using a Siemens 160 MLC: geometric and dosimetric accuracy of an integrated system.

PURPOSE: Dynamic multileaf collimator tracking represents a promising method for high-precision radiotherapy to moving tumors. In the present study, we report on the integration of electromagnetic real-time tumor position monitoring into a multileaf collimator-based tracking system. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The integrated system was characterized in terms of its geometric and radiologic accuracy. The former was assessed from portal images acquired during radiation delivery to a phantom in tracking mode. The tracking errors were calculated from the positions of the tracking field and of the phantom as extracted from the portal images. Radiologic accuracy was evaluated from film dosimetry performed for conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy applied to different phantoms moving on sinusoidal trajectories. A static radiation delivery to the nonmoving target served as a reference for the delivery to the moving phantom with and without tracking applied. RESULTS: Submillimeter tracking accuracy was observed for two-dimensional target motion despite the relatively large system latency of 500 ms. Film dosimetry yielded almost complete recovery of a circular dose distribution with tracking in two dimensions applied: 2%/2 mm gamma-failure rates could be reduced from 59.7% to 3.3%. For single-beam intensity-modulated radiotherapy delivery, accuracy was limited by the finite leaf width. A 2%/2 mm gamma-failure rate of 15.6% remained with tracking applied. CONCLUSION: The integrated system we have presented marks a major step toward the clinical implementation of high-precision dynamic multileaf collimator tracking. However, several challenges such as irregular motion traces or a thorough quality assurance still need to be addressed.

Real-time tumor tracking: automatic compensation of target motion using the Siemens 160 MLC.

PURPOSE: Advanced high quality radiation therapy techniques such as IMRT require an accurate delivery of precisely modulated radiation fields to the target volume. Interfractional and intrafractional motion of the patient's anatomy, however, may considerably deteriorate the accuracy of the delivered dose to the planned dose distributions. In order to compensate for these potential errors, a dynamic real-time capable MLC control system was designed. METHODS: The newly developed adaptive MLC control system contains specialized algorithms which are capable of continuous optimization and correction of the aperture of the MLC according to the motion of the target volume during the dose delivery. The algorithms calculate the new leaf positions based on target information provided online to the system. The algorithms were implemented in a dynamic target tracking control system designed for a Siemens 160 MLC. To assess the quality of the new target tracking system in terms of dosimetric accuracy, experiments with various types of motion patterns using different phantom setups were performed. The phantoms were equipped with radiochromic films placed between solid water slabs. Dosimetric results of exemplary deliveries to moving targets with and without dynamic MLC tracking applied were compared in terms of the gamma criterion to the reference dose delivered to a static phantom. RESULTS: Our measurements indicated that dose errors for clinically relevant two-dimensional target motion can be compensated by the new control system during the dose delivery of open fields. For a clinical IMRT dose distribution, the gamma success rate was increased from 19% to 77% using the new tracking system. Similar improvements were achieved for the delivery of a complete IMRT treatment fraction to a moving lung phantom. However, dosimetric accuracy was limited by the system's latency of 400 ms and the finite leaf width of 5 mm in the isocenter plane. CONCLUSIONS: Different experimental setups representing different target tracking scenarios proved that the tracking concept, the new algorithms and the dynamic control system make it possible to effectively compensate for dose errors due to target motion in real-time. These early results indicate that the method is suited to increasing the accuracy and the quality of the treatment delivery for the irradiation of moving tumors.

Organization of rat vibrissa motor cortex and adjacent areas according to cytoarchitectonics, microstimulation, and intracellular stimulation of identified cells.

The relationship between motor maps and cytoarchitectonic subdivisions in rat frontal cortex is not well understood. We use cytoarchitectonic analysis of microstimulation sites and intracellular stimulation of identified cells to develop a cell-based partitioning scheme of rat vibrissa motor cortex and adjacent areas. The results suggest that rat primary motor cortex (M1) is composed of three cytoarchitectonic areas, the agranular medial field (AGm), the agranular lateral field (AG1), and the cingulate area 1 (Cg1), each of which represents movements of different body parts. Vibrissa motor cortex corresponds entirely and for the most part exclusively to AGm. In area AG1 body/head movements can be evoked. In posterior area Cg1 periocular/eye movements and in anterior area Cg1 nose movements can be evoked. In all of these areas stimulation thresholds are very low, and together they form a complete representation of the rat's body surface. A strong myelinization and an expanded layer 5 characterize area AGm. We suggest that both the strong myelinization and the expanded layer 5 of area AGm may represent cytoarchitectonic specializations related to control of high-speed whisking behavior.