Validation of in-house algorithm for SPECT-CT 3D segmentation and high-accuracy cancer internal dosimetry protocol

Abstract

Abstract Tumour volume measurement requires physicist to perform manual delineation for every slice of 2D image produced by SPECT-CT to obtain the total number of pixel of abnormal activities. The total number of pixel is multiplied with spatial resolution of each pixel and thickness between each slice. Physicist delineate abnormal activities of tumour subjectively which lead to inconsistent accuracy of the measured volume. Manual delineation process requires high consumption of time and effort. This work is aimed to verify and validate an in-house developed algorithm that capable of numerically quantify the tumour volume. The results were compared with the actual and manually calculated volume of Phantom Body, scanned with SPECT-CT apparatus. The algorithm verification is performed by comparing the algorithm structure and preliminary results with previous works. The data for validation were obtained by conducting experiment with NEMA-IEC body phantom and Iodine-131. The algorithm structure and outcome were comparable with previous works with slight modification. The algorithm measured volume is 26.9579 cm3 which is only 1.6% error as compared to the actual tumour volume of 26.521 cm3. The algorithm is expected to be used for actual patient data in the near future once sufficient verification and validation procedures are achieved.