A Comparative, Multiobserver Analysis of Nodal Contouring Methods in Pelvic Online Cone Beam-Based Adaptive Radiation Therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

In online cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)-based adaptive radiation therapy (ART), nodal recontouring ensures sufficient nodal coverage by accounting for anatomic change but is uniquely challenging due to small target size and time pressure. This study evaluates the accuracy of rigid propagation versus artificial intelligence-guided deformation (AID) for nodal autosegmentation via comparison to nodal recontours delineated with unlimited time (ie, benchmark contours).

Methods and materials

We analyzed 25 nodal structures from 16 patients receiving pelvic online CBCT-based ART with nodal boost. Nodal structure sampling was informed by an initial power analysis. For each structure, we obtained rigidly propagated and AID-generated contours in addition to 2 benchmark

SUBMITTER: Wang E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12808885 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature