Improving the Inclusivity of Cherenkov Imaging in Radiotherapy for Diverse Patient Groups

最近，切伦科夫成像作为一种新的临床工具出现，彻底改变了放射治疗的方式 (RT)团队可以查看处理。自临床放射治疗以来，放射治疗一直被认为是一种“盲法”治疗。 光束是肉眼看不见的。然而，当病人受到x射线或电子照射时，光线很弱 信号是在它们的组织内产生的，被称为“切伦科夫效应”，光量与 辐射剂量的大小。在达特茅斯，光学医学实验室开发了一种 一种在放射治疗过程中将光信号成像在患者表面的方法，使放射治疗不再是“盲人” 程序。这种新的成像工具有许多实际应用，包括有机会 根据切伦科夫和切伦科夫之间的关系，开发一种非接触、被动、全表面剂量测量工具 辐射和剂量沉积。然而，影响这种关系的因素很多，必须加以考虑。 才能实现这一点。 最重要的因素之一是黑色素浓度。我们知道较高的黑色素 在黑皮肤患者身上发现的浓度可以使光信号量减少近一个数量级 与浅色皮肤的患者相比，其规模更大。然而，由于患者人口统计数据有限， 达特茅斯-希区柯克健康(DHH)，该团队到目前为止还没有对皮肤黝黑的患者和任何进展进行成像 是与集水区主要的浅色皮肤人口制作的。主要目标 这项拟议的研究项目的目的是收集和分析具有代表性的不同患者数据集 并开发了用于临床切伦科夫成像的肤色校准算法，最终目标是 将切伦科夫成像转变为适用于所有患者的包容性剂量学工具。这将是 通过研究申请者在DHH(黎巴嫩，NH)，Moffitt 癌症中心(佛罗里达州坦帕)和DoseOptics LLC(黎巴嫩，NH)，他们将提供切伦科夫成像 硬件和软件支持。莫菲特癌症中心的集水区由大约33%的少数民族组成， 相比之下，DHH的比例约为4%。这项工作将首次解决黑皮肤患者的临床切伦科夫成像问题。 并开发了对肤色的校准，这是光学剂量测量工具的关键组件。 申请者的培训目标包括促进多机构合作、扩大 医学物理学知识，并为医学物理学的职业发展培养临床和技术技能。 做正式的演讲，参加研讨会和杂志俱乐部，指导和教授其他 学生和撰写同行评议的论文将有助于申请人的职业发展。 在赞助商和合作者的支持下，这项拟议的奖学金将使申请者获得 在医学物理学方面的成功和多产的职业生涯，为她的整个研究做出了有意义的贡献 职业生涯。

Recently, Cherenkov imaging has emerged as a novel clinical tool, revolutionizing how the radiotherapy (RT) team can view treatments. RT had always been considered a “blind” procedure since clinical radiation beams are invisible to the human eye. However, as patients are irradiated with x-rays or electrons, a low light signal is generated within their tissue, called the “Cherenkov effect”, and the amount of light is proportional to the amount of radiation dose delivered. At Dartmouth, the Optics in Medicine Laboratory has developed a way to image this light signal on the surface of a patient during RT, transforming RT to no longer be a “blind” procedure. This novel imaging tool lends itself to many practical applications, including the opportunity to develop a non-contact, passive, whole surface dosimetry tool following the relationship between Cherenkov emission and dose deposition. However, many factors influence this relationship and must be accounted for before this can be achieved. One of the most important factors is melanin concentration. We know that higher melanin concentrations found in dark-skinned patients can reduce the amount of light signal by nearly an order of magnitude compared to light-skinned patients. However, due to the limited patient demographics at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health (DHH), the team has not imaged dark skin patients and any development thus far has been made with the predominant light-skinned population in the catchment area. The primary objectives of this proposed research project are to collect and analyze a diverse patient data set representative of the country and develop a skin color calibration algorithm for clinical Cherenkov imaging, with the ultimate goal of transforming Cherenkov imaging into an inclusive dosimetry tool that works for all patients. This will be achieved through a collaboration that the research applicant has formed between DHH (Lebanon, NH), Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa, FL) and DoseOptics LLC (Lebanon, NH), who will provide the Cherenkov imaging hardware and software support. Moffitt Cancer Center’s catchment area is comprised of ~33% minorities, compared to DHH’s ~4%. This work will be first to address clinical Cherenkov imaging for dark-skinned patients and develop a calibration for skin tone, an essential component for an optical dosimetry tool. The applicant’s training objectives include facilitating a multi-institutional collaboration, broadening knowledge of medical physics, and developing clinical and technical skills for a career in medical physics. Giving formal presentations, participating in workshops and journal clubs, mentoring and teaching other students, and authoring peer-reviewed papers will contribute to the applicant’s professional development. With support from sponsors and collaborators, this proposed fellowship will advance the applicant towards a successful and productive career in medical physics, contributing meaningful research for the entirety of her career.