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

最近，切伦科夫成像已经成为一种新型的临床工具，彻底改变了放射治疗的方式。 (RT)团队可以查看治疗。自临床放射治疗以来，RT一直被认为是一种“盲”操作 光束对人眼是不可见的。然而，当患者被X射线或电子照射时， 信号在他们的组织内产生，称为“切伦科夫效应”，光量与 辐射剂量的大小。在达特茅斯，医学光学实验室开发了一种 一种在RT期间将该光信号成像在患者表面上的方法，将RT转变为不再是“盲” procedure.这种新颖的成像工具适用于许多实际应用，包括有机会 开发一种非接触，被动，全表面剂量测定工具以下切伦科夫之间的关系 发射和剂量沉积。然而，许多因素影响这种关系，必须加以说明 才能实现这一点。 最重要的因素之一是黑色素浓度。我们知道高浓度的黑色素 在深色皮肤患者中发现的浓度可以将光信号的量减少近一个数量级。 与浅色皮肤患者相比，然而，由于患者人口统计资料有限， 达特茅斯-希区柯克健康（DHH），该小组还没有成像深色皮肤的患者和任何发展，迄今为止 是以集水区的主要浅肤色人口为对象的。主要目标 这项拟议的研究项目的目的是收集和分析一个不同的病人数据集代表的 国家和开发一个皮肤颜色校准算法的临床切伦科夫成像，最终目标是 将切伦科夫成像转换为适用于所有患者的包容性剂量测定工具。这将是 通过研究申请人在DHH（黎巴嫩，NH），Moffitt 癌症中心（坦帕，佛罗里达州）和DoseOptics LLC（黎巴嫩，新罕布什尔州），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约33%的少数民族组成， 相比之下，DHH的约4%。这项工作将首先解决深肤色患者的临床切伦科夫成像 并开发肤色校准，这是光学剂量测定工具的重要组成部分。 申请人的培训目标包括促进多机构合作，扩大 医学物理学知识，并为医学物理学职业发展临床和技术技能。 发表正式演讲，参加研讨会和期刊俱乐部，指导和教授其他课程 学生，并撰写同行评审的论文将有助于申请人的专业发展。 在赞助商和合作者的支持下，这项拟议的奖学金将推动申请人走向 她在医学物理学方面的成功和富有成效的职业生涯，为整个她的研究做出了有意义的贡献。 事业

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.