A multimodal matching application to optimize neurosurgery and brain stereotaxic irradiation: requirements and realization

A more extensive description of brain disease for radiotherapy and neurosurgery treatment planning can be obtained by co-registering functional image sets, obtained from /sup 201/Tl-SPECT and/or fMRI, with corresponding anatomical image sets, obtained from MRI or CT. Using the external edge of the head, which is visible on both the functional and anatomical image sets, an automatic matching procedure based on the chamfer method allows multi plan fusion slices to be displayed and analyzed with a dedicated software package. Approximately one hour is required for matching, analysis, and data transfer. The co-register functional image set output files are written in a format compatible with local neurosurgery and radiotherapy applications. A multimodal application in a clinical environment requires a matching algorithm, knowledge of the data formats and dedicated visualization software. Co-registration and fusion of SPECT, fMRI and MR image sets was performed to optimize surgery and radiotherapy for 5 and 3 patients respectively. The influence on neurosurgery and stereotaxic irradiation will be evaluated by the patient follow up.