A novel 3D volumetric voxel registration technique for volume-view-guided image registration of multiple imaging modalities

• Published in: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 261 - 273
• Main Authors: Li, Guang, Xie, Huchen, Ning, Holly, Capala, Jacek, Arora, Barbara C., Coleman, C. Norman, Camphausen, Kevin, Miller, Robert W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2005
• Subjects: 3D voxel image registration; Accelerated image registration with improved accuracy; Algorithms; Head - anatomy & histology; Head - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Multimodality image registration; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiation treatment planning; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted - methods; Technology, Radiologic - methods; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Volume-view-guided image registration; Multimodality image registration; Radiation treatment planning; Volume-view-guided image registration; 3D voxel image registration; Accelerated image registration with improved accuracy
• ISSN: 0360-3016; 1879-355X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2005.05.008

Purpose: To provide more clinically useful image registration with improved accuracy and reduced time, a novel technique of three-dimensional (3D) volumetric voxel registration of multimodality images is developed. Methods and Materials: This technique can register up to four concurrent images from multimodalities with volume view guidance. Various visualization effects can be applied, facilitating global and internal voxel registration. Fourteen computed tomography/magnetic resonance (CT/MR) image sets and two computed tomography/positron emission tomography (CT/PET) image sets are used. For comparison, an automatic registration technique using maximization of mutual information (MMI) and a three-orthogonal-planar (3P) registration technique are used. Results: Visually sensitive registration criteria for CT/MR and CT/PET have been established, including the homogeneity of color distribution. Based on the registration results of 14 CT/MR images, the 3D voxel technique is in excellent agreement with the automatic MMI technique and is indicatory of a global positioning error (defined as the means and standard deviations of the error distribution) using the 3P pixel technique: 1.8° ± 1.2° in rotation and 2.0 ± 1.3 (voxel unit) in translation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that such positioning error has been addressed. Conclusion: This novel 3D voxel technique establishes volume-view-guided image registration of up to four modalities. It improves registration accuracy with reduced time, compared with the 3P pixel technique. This article suggests that any interactive and automatic registration should be safeguarded using the 3D voxel technique.