Abstract: An imaging system (10) includes imaging modalities such as a PET imaging system (12) and a CT scanner (14). The CT scanner (14) is used to produce a first image (62) which is used for primary contouring. The PET system (12) is used to provide a second image (56), which provides complementary information about the same or overlapping anatomical region. After first and second images (62, 56) are registered with one another the first and second images (62, 56) are concurrently segmented to outline a keyhole (76). The keyhole portion of the second image (56) is inserted into the keyhole (76) of the first image (62). The user can observe the composite image and deform a boundary (78) of the keyhole (76) by a mouse (52) to better focus on the region of interest within previously defined keyhole.

Abstract: An imaging system (10) includes imaging modalities such as a PET imaging system (12) and a CT scanner (14). The CT scanner (14) is used to produce a first image (62) which is used for primary contouring. The PET system (12) is used to provide a second image (56), which provides complementary information about the same or overlapping anatomical region. After first and second images (62, 56) are registered with one another the first and second images (62, 56) are concurrently segmented to outline a keyhole (76). The keyhole portion of the second image (56) is inserted into the keyhole (76) of the first image (62). The user can observe the composite image and deform a boundary (78) of the keyhole (76) by a mouse (52) to better focus on the region of interest within previously defined keyhole.

Abstract: A radiation treatment apparatus (10) includes a diagnostic imaging scanner (12) that acquires a diagnostic image of a subject. A contouring processor (54) computes a radiation treatment objective based thereon. A radiation delivery apparatus (60) delivers radiation to the subject. An inverse planning processor (80) computes radiation beamlet parameters conforming with the radiation treatment objective by: grouping the beamlet parameters; assigning a weight to each group (82, 84, 86); optimizing a first group (82) to produce an intermediate dosage objective corresponding to the treatment objective weighted by a weight of the first group (82); and optimizing successive groups (84) to produce with the previously optimized groups (82) an increasing intermediate dosage objective corresponding to the treatment objective weighted by the combined weights of the previous and current groups (82, 84).

Abstract: A radiation treatment apparatus (10) includes a diagnostic imaging scanner (12) that acquires a diagnostic image of a subject. A contouring processor (54) computes a radiation treatment objective based thereon. A radiation delivery apparatus (60) delivers radiation to the subject. An inverse planning processor (80) computes radiation beamlet parameters conforming with the radiation treatment objective by: grouping the beamlet parameters; assigning a weight to each group (82, 84, 86); optimizing a first group (82) to produce an intermediate dosage objective corresponding to the treatment objective weighted by a weight of the first group (82); and optimizing successive groups (84) to produce with the previously optimized groups (82) an increasing intermediate dosage objective corresponding to the treatment objective weighted by the combined weights of the previous and current groups (82, 84).