4,081 research outputs found

    Radiotherapy Response Using Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Liver Patients Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

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    Magnetic resonance imaging is utilized as an important tool in radiation oncology for delineation of healthy and cancerous tissues, and evaluating the functionality of those tissues, structures, and organs. Currently, the clinical imaging protocol at Virginia Commonwealth University includes anatomical imaging for tissue and structure delineation, and to observe treatment induced changes. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is also acquired for calculation of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values to provide quantitative information on tissue diffusivity and microstructure. However, anatomical images and ADC values may not display the true extent of changes in tissue. This work seeks to further utilize the capabilities of MRI and expand its role in treatment response monitoring for liver cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). To do so, an imaging protocol and image analysis methodology to evaluate treatment changes on pre- and post-treatment image sets was developed. An extension of DWI, termed intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging, was utilized to quantitatively assess levels of perfusion and diffusion within the liver and tumor. Acquisition of high-quality diffusion weighted images of the liver necessitated the development of an MR safe respiratory motion management device, which was designed, constructed and evaluated in this work. An imaging protocol was developed providing anatomical and functional images of the liver, acquired under breath hold, utilizing the respiratory motion management device. An IVIM parameter calculation and texture analysis workflow was developed using MATLAB, and applied to acquired data sets from multiple studies, including past clinical cases, investigator, healthy volunteer, and liver cancer patient . Differences in IVIM and texture analysis parameters were investigated for healthy and diseased tissue, and for select dose regions from pre- and post-treatment imaging sessions. Significant differences, at a voxel level, were found between healthy and diseased tissue, and pre- and post-treatment volumes, for multiple parameters, including apparent diffusion coefficient, pure diffusion, and perfusion, as well as for various texture features. Overall, this study showed the potential of IVIM and texture analysis to be used for discriminating between healthy and diseased tissues in the liver, and for indication of treatment response

    Design of nanostructured polymeric materials for radiation shielding of ionizing radiations

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    This study seeks to provide a novel approach for producing technologically viable new radiation shielding materials to meet the safety requirements for use in medical X-ray imaging facilities. The approach was based on dispersing micro-sized and nano-sized heavy element fillers into polymeric materials using different filler dispersion methods such as melt-mixing, ion implantation and electrospinning. These materials have high potential application for shielding of X-rays in diagnostic radiology purposes

    Medicolegal Aspects of Injuries from Exposure to X-Rays and Radioactive Substances

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    Management of COPD:Is there a role for quantitative imaging?

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    While the recent development of quantitative imaging methods have led to their increased use in the diagnosis and management of many chronic diseases, medical imaging still plays a limited role in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this review we highlight three pulmonary imaging modalities: computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and the COPD biomarkers that may be helpful for managing COPD patients. We discussed the current role imaging plays in COPD management as well as the potential role quantitative imaging will play by identifying imaging phenotypes to enable more effective COPD management and improved outcomes

    Baystate Medical Practices Annual Report - 2019

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    https://scholarlycommons.libraryinfo.bhs.org/bmpannual_report/1004/thumbnail.jp
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