Journal of Radiation Research and Radiation Processing, Volume. 41, Issue 5, 050302(2023)

Application value of liquid fiducial marker in image-guided radiotherapy

Yulin HUANG1, Haifang YANG1, Bin JIANG1, Wang ZHANG1, Chao ZHANG1, Jianping LIU1, and Long TIAN2、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1Tangshan People’s Hospital, Tangshan 063000, China
  • 2The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Northern University, Zhangjiakou 075000, China
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    This study was conducted to evaluate the application value of a degradable liquid fiducial marker (LFM) in image-guided radiotherapy. In vitro experiment: using a solid fiducial marker (SFM) as a reference, the visibility, artifact, and optimal injection volume of an LFM under different cone beam CT tube voltage conditions were evaluated. In vivo experiment: using the SFM as a reference, the stability and degradation status of the LFM in nude mice were evaluated. Nude mice implanted with tumor cells were randomly divided into four groups: single fraction radiotherapy group (16 Gy/fraction) without LFM injection, single fraction radiotherapy group (16 Gy/fraction) with LFM injection, 2 fractions radiotherapy group (8 Gy/fraction) with LFM injection, and 4 fractions radiotherapy group (4 Gy/fraction) with LFM injection. The impact of LFM on tumor growth was evaluated based on the irradiation results. Compared with SFM, the LFM artifacts were significantly smaller (all p<0.05), and the visibility met the clinical differentiation requirements. The best imaging quality was achieved when the injection volume was 10 μL. The displacement of the LFM centroid relative to the spinal cord in the nude mice was significantly greater than that of the gold fiducial marker ((0.22 ± 0.03) mm vs. (0.17 ± 0.02) mm, p<0.05); however, it was always smaller than a pixel size. The results indicated good stability. The actual degradation rate of the LFM was highly consistent with the theoretical degradation rate. The LFM had a relatively smaller impact on tumor growth in the single fraction radiotherapy group but a greater impact in the fractional radiotherapy groups. LFMs have certain clinical applications and promotional value, and they are expected to replace SFMs in the future.

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    Yulin HUANG, Haifang YANG, Bin JIANG, Wang ZHANG, Chao ZHANG, Jianping LIU, Long TIAN. Application value of liquid fiducial marker in image-guided radiotherapy[J]. Journal of Radiation Research and Radiation Processing, 2023, 41(5): 050302

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    Paper Information

    Category: Research Articles

    Received: Apr. 3, 2023

    Accepted: May. 16, 2023

    Published Online: Dec. 27, 2023

    The Author Email:

    DOI:10.11889/j.1000-3436.2023-0031

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