Radiotherapy Dose Planning via Tumor Sub-region Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation treatment planning systems face challenges in accurately quantifying exposure areas, leading to increased risk of adverse effects on normal tissues due to difficulties in defining and setting doses for invaded tumor areas, resulting in under or over exposure of radiation.
Innovation Solution
A radiotherapy information generation apparatus and method that specifies tumor areas and calculates planned dose values through diagnostic image analysis, enabling the identification of over and under exposure areas, and adjusts radiation exposure conditions to minimize adverse effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If margins are added to tumor areas to define treatment regions (GTV, CTV, ITV, PTV), then the coverage of tumor tissue is improved, but the exposure of normal tissues increases leading to adverse effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tumor region into multiple sub-regions (e.g., core tumor, invasive margin, peritumoral edema) based on diagnostic images. This allows differential dose prescription where the core receives higher dose while the invasive margin and surrounding tissues receive progressively lower doses, thereby reducing unnecessary radiation to normal tissues while maintaining adequate tumor coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different dose values to different regions within the tumor area. Instead of uniform dose distribution, the system calculates and prescribes spatially varying doses based on the functional and structural characteristics of each sub-region, optimizing treatment effectiveness while minimizing harm to adjacent normal structures
2Ease of operation
If conventional margin-based regions are used for radiation planning, then the treatment planning process is simplified, but the quantitative accuracy of exposure areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary quantitative analysis of diagnostic images (CT, MRI, PET) to automatically define tumor sub-regions and their corresponding dose values before the radiation treatment planning. This preliminary characterization of the tumor's spatial and functional properties enables more accurate dose calculation while maintaining ease of operation through automated processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual margin definition methods with automated image analysis algorithms that quantitatively identify tumor regions and calculate appropriate dose distributions. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with computational methods improves measurement precision while maintaining operational simplicity
3Device complexity
If uniform dose values are assigned to all tumor regions, then the calculation complexity is reduced, but the precision of dose distribution is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by making the dose distribution spatially variable rather than static and uniform. The system calculates dose values that dynamically adapt to the specific characteristics of each tumor sub-region identified through image analysis, achieving precise dose distribution while managing calculation complexity through structured algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a radiotherapy information generation apparatus includes a region specific unit and a planning estimation unit. The region specific unit is configured to specify at least one area defined with respect to a tumor by analysis processing of diagnostic image data. The planning estimation unit is configured to display estimation information of planned dose values calculated based on the area and expected dose values of a radiation. Further, according to another embodiment, a radiotherapy information generation method includes specifying at least one area defined with respect to a tumor by analysis processing of diagnostic image data; and displaying estimation information of planned dose values calculated based on the area and expected dose values of a radiation.