Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for identifying the location of a target region using a tumor identification (ID) profile. A tumor ID profile includes identification parameters that characterize the target region. The tumor ID profile may be used to facilitate the identification of multiple target regions and to evaluate whether it is safe to deliver radiation to the target regions at their updated locations. Also disclosed herein are methods for analyzing a dose distribution to a target region by generating a bounded dose volume histogram (bDVH) based on gamma criteria comprising a distance-to-agreement (DTA) criterion and a dose difference (DD) criterion. In one variation, a gamma-derived bDVH is used in a method for selecting gamma criteria values for evaluating a radiotherapy treatment plan.

Abstract: A method includes generating a kinetic parameter value for a VOI in a functional image of a subject based on motion corrected projection data using an iterative algorithm, including determining a motion correction for projection data corresponding to the VOI based on the VOI, motion correcting the projection data corresponding to the VOI to generate the motion corrected projection data, and estimating the at least one kinetic parameter value based on the motion corrected projection data or image data generated with the motion corrected projection data. In another embodiment, a method includes registering functional image data indicative of tracer uptake in a scanned patient with image data from a different imaging modality, identifying a VOI in the image based on the registered images, generating at least one kinetic parameter for the VOI, and generating a feature vector including the at least one generated kinetic parameter and at least one bio-marker.

Abstract: A nuclear imaging system includes a scanner (8), such as a PET scanner. A patient is injected with a [13N]ammonia radioisotope tracer which is contaminated with a small percent of 18F contamination. The scanner receives radiation from the injected tracer and a reconstruction processor (28) reconstructs the detected radiation into image representations. A calibration processor (16) generates an estimated decay curve based on the proton bombardment and a priori information about the tracer. An activity meter (42) measures radiation emitted from a sample of the tracer and a dose calibrator (44) determines a decay curve from the measured radiation. The detected radiation is corrected with one of the decay curves during reconstruction or a correction processor (50) corrects reconstructed images with one or both of the decay curves. A display (14) displays uncorrected reconstructed images and the decay curve and/or the corrected images.

Abstract: A nuclear imaging system includes a scanner (8), such as a PET scanner. A patient is injected with a [13N]ammonia radioisotope tracer which is contaminated with a small percent of 18F contamination. The scanner receives radiation from the injected tracer and a reconstruction processor (28) reconstructs the detected radiation into image representations. A warning generator (12) generates warnings to the clinician concerning the effects of the 18F contamination. A calibration processor (16) generates an estimated decay curve based on a time since the end of the proton bombardment which created the tracer and a priori information about the tracer. An activity meter (42) measures radiation emitted from a sample of the tracer and a dose calibrator (44) determines a decay curve from the measured radiation.

Abstract: A method includes generating a kinetic parameter value for a VOI in a functional image of a subject based on motion corrected projection data using an iterative algorithm, including determining a motion correction for projection data corresponding to the VOI based on the VOI, motion correcting the projection data corresponding to the VOI to generate the motion corrected projection data, and estimating the at least one kinetic parameter value based on the motion corrected projection data or image data generated with the motion corrected projection data. In another embodiment, a method includes registering functional image data indicative of tracer uptake in a scanned patient with image data from a different imaging modality, identifying a VOI in the image based on the registered images, generating at least one kinetic parameter for the VOI, and generating a feature vector including the at least one generated kinetic parameter and at least one bio- marker.