Prior-image-based low-dose CT reconstruction for adaptive radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVE The study aims to reduce the imaging radiation dose in Adaptive Radiotherapy (ART) while maintaining high-quality CT images, critical for effective treatment planning and monitoring. APPROACH We developed the Prior-aware Learned Primal-Dual Network (pLPD-UNet), which uses prior CT images to enhance reconstructions from low-dose scans. The network was separately trained on thorax and abdomen datasets to accommodate the unique imaging requirements of each anatomical region. MAIN RESULTS The pLPD-UNet demonstrated improved reconstruction accuracy and robustness in handling sparse data compared to traditional methods. It effectively maintained image quality essential for precise organ delineation and dose calculation, while achieving a significant reduction in radiation exposure. SIGNIFICANCE This method offers a significant advancement in the practice of ART by integrating prior imaging data, potentially setting a new standard for balancing radiation safety with the need for high-resolution imaging in cancer treatment planning.