Strategies to develop radiomics and machine learning models for lung cancer stage and histology prediction using small data samples

Abstract Predictive models based on radiomics and machine-learning (ML) need large and annotated datasets for training, often difficult to collect. We designed an operative pipeline for model training to exploit data already available to the scientific community. The aim of this work was to explore the capability of radiomic features in predicting tumor histology and stage in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We analyzed the radiotherapy planning thoracic CT scans of a proprietary sample of 47 subjects (L-RT) and integrated this dataset with a publicly available set of 130 patients from the MAASTRO NSCLC collection (Lung1). We implemented intra- and inter-sample cross-valida…

Moving across the static magnetic field of a 1.5 T MRI scanner: Analysing compliance with Directive 2013/35/EU

Abstract Does the exposure of magnetic resonance imaging personnel to static magnetic fields fully comply with Directive 2013/35/EU? Despite the obligation to satisfy this question, a general answer cannot be provided, nor are final satisfying good practices methods for exposure assessment currently available. In order to contribute to fix this problem, three different 1.5 T scanners are analysed and – by a new theoretical insight – a positive answer is provided.

Correlation between ferrous ammonium sulfate concentration, sensitivity and stability of Fricke gel dosimeters exposed to clinical X-ray beams

Abstract This work describes the characterization of various Fricke-Agarose-Xylenol gels (FXG) dosimeters using NMR relaxometry and MRI analysis. Using X-rays from a clinical linear accelerator (LINAC), the gels were irradiated in the dose range from 0 Gy to 20 Gy. The photon sensitivity of the FXGs was measured in terms of NMR relaxation rates; its dependence on radiation dose was determined as a function of ferrous ammonium sulfate contents (from 0.5 mM to 5 mM). Furthermore, the stability of the NMR signal was monitored over several days after irradiation. These measurements were aided by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans which allowed three-dimensional (3D) dose mapping. In order t…

Analysis of the response of PVA-GTA Fricke-gel dosimeters with clinical magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Fricke gel dosimeters produced with a matrix of Poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GTA) were analyzed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Previous studies based on spectrophotometry showed valuable dosimetric features of these gels in terms of X-ray sensitivity and diffusion of the ferric ions produced after irradiation. In this study, MRI was performed on the gels at 1.5 T with a clinical scanner in order to optimize the acquisition parameters and obtain high contrast between irradiated and non-irradiated samples. The PVA gels were found to offer good linearity in the range of 0–10 Gy and a stable signal for several hours after irradiation. The sensitivi…

Misure preliminari su scanner MRI 7T di stabilità nel tempo di Dosimetri gel di tipo Fricke

L’ottimizzazione delle procedure che utilizzano radiazioni ionizzanti in campo medico costituisce un elemento chiave per la sicurezza del paziente e l’esito dei trattamenti radioterapici. In particolare è fondamentale arrecare il minor danno possibile ai tessuti sani circostanti la neoplasia da trattare (Attix, 2004). La misurazione precisa della dose somministrata nei tessuti e la sua mappatura in tre dimensioni sono di fondamentale importanza in termini di riuscita e di pianificazione dei trattamenti radioterapici (Khan, 2009). In questo lavoro sono presentate le misure preliminari effettuate per testare la stabilità temporale di dosimetri gel di tipo Fricke tramite scanner pre-clinico 7T…

New Fricke gel with high sensitivity and low diffusion for 3D-MRI dosimetry

Analysis of spatial diffusion of ferric ions in PVA-GTA gel dosimeters through magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract This work focused on the analysis of the temporal diffusion of ferric ions through PVA-GTA gel dosimeters. PVA-GTA gel samples, partly exposed with 6 MV X-rays in order to create an initial steep gradient, were mapped using magnetic resonance imaging on a 7T MRI scanner for small animals. Multiple images of the gels were acquired over several hours after irradiation and were analyzed to quantitatively extract the signal profile. The spatial resolution achieved is 200 μm and this makes this technique particularly suitable for the analysis of steep gradients of ferric ion concentration. The results obtained with PVA-GTA gels were compared with those achieved with agarose gels, which …

209 New Fricke gel with high sensitivity and low diffusion for 3D-MRI dosimetry

Purpose Fricke gel (FG) dosimeters are good candidates for 3D dose assessment in biological materials. Their effective atomic number and density are similar to those of soft tissue. In view of their chemical and morphological characteristics, FG serve as dosimeters and as phantoms at the same time. FG dosimeters are obtained by incorporating an acidic aqueous solution of ferrous ions Fe2+ into a gel matrix. In order to address the limitations of gels based on natural matrices, we have studied FG produced with a matrix of poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GTA). Materials and methods The proposed gel contains 10% w/v of PVA and GTA of 1%w/v. A common formulation agaro…

Accomplishing the requirements within the new decree 159/2016: Comparative study of eddy currents induced in a human phantom moving near different MRI scanners

Purpose. In order to provide adequate risk-reducing procedures for MRI personnel (radiographers, anaesthetists, physicists, nurses, technicians, cleaners, etc.), different studies have been developed in the past years. Further to those, in the present work risk assessment concerned with currents induced by non-uniform static magnetic fields in MRI operators performing different tasks in prox imity of the scanner has been investigated across a set of different 1.5 T MRI scanners. Methods. The first step has been to empirically map the magnetic field around the different scanners and to select a proper adult human body as a heterogeneous volume conductor model. Then, upon observing the way ta…

34. Accomplishing the requirements within the new decree 159/2016: Comparative study of eddy currents induced in a human phantom moving near different MRI scanners

Purpose In order to provide adequate risk-reducing procedures for MRI personnel (radiographers, anaesthetists, physicists, nurses, technicians, cleaners, etc.), different studies have been developed in the past years. Further to those, in the present work risk assessment concerned with currents induced by non-uniform static magnetic fields in MRI operators performing different tasks in proximity of the scanner has been investigated across a set of different 1.5 T MRI scanners. Methods The first step has been to empirically map the magnetic field around the different scanners and to select a proper adult human body as a heterogeneous volume conductor model. Then, upon observing the way tasks…

Moving inside a MRI room: A risk assessment analysis

Moving across the stray magnetic field generated by a medical magnetic resonance imaging system may induce electric stimulation near or even beyond the threshold of physiological significance and adequate risk-reducing procedures for the involved personnel may be re quired. With this in mind, a set of different scanners has been analysed. Results suggest that a 1.5 T magnet may be expected in general to comply with the requirements of the currently in force European Electromagnetic Fields Directive for ensuring the health and safety of workers.

ALANINE/ESR DOSIMETRY FOR TOTAL BODY IRRADIATION USING AN ANTHROPOMORPHIC PHANTOM

Introduction: Total Body Irradiation (TBI) is a technique widely used in the radiation blood-oncology in the treatment of patients that need bone marrow transplantation or peripheral stem cell transplantation. This technique has some limitations such as the lack of homogeneity of the dose distribution (which may show variations of 20% in the different areas), irradiation of critical organs such as the lungs, the liver, the intestine and the eye-lens which can receive a dose comparable to that nominal and require appropriate shielding and a proper evaluation of the dose absorbed by them. The positive outcome of this type of radiation therapy is strictly related to a precise and accurate meas…

PVA-GTA Fricke gel dosimeters exposed to clinical photons beams: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry and Imaging

Fricke Gel (FXGs) dosimetric system is based on the radiation induced oxidation of ferrous to ferric ions. The application of Fricke gels for ionizing radiation dosimetry is continuously increasing worldwide due to their many favorable properties. However, one of their shortcomings is that ferrous and ferric ions diffuse in the gel matrix. To maintain the spatial integrity of the dose distribution, Fricke gels must be undergoing measurement within a few hours of their irradiation, so that ferric ions remain close to their point of production. Thus, the spatial integrity of the dose distribution in the Fricke gel is maintained (Schreiner, 2015). The gel matrix also contributes to the oxidati…