Michael E J Stouthandel1, Pim Pullens2,3,4, Stephanie Bogaert2,3, Max Schoepen5, Carl Vangestel6,7, Eric Achten2, Liv Veldeman5,8, Tom Van Hoof5. 1. Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, radiotherapy park, entrance 98, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. michael.stouthandel@ugent.be. 2. Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. 3. Ghent Institute for Functional and Metabolic Imaging (GIFMI), Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. 4. IBiTech-Medisip, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. 5. Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, radiotherapy park, entrance 98, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. 6. Directorate Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, 1000, Brussels, Belgium. 7. Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Biology Department, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. 8. Department of Radiation Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, radiotherapy park, entrance 98, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Thiel embalming followed by freezing in the desired position and acquiring CT + MRI scans is expected to be the ideal approach to obtain accurate, enhanced CT data for delineation guideline development. The effect of Thiel embalming and freezing on MRI image quality is not known. This study evaluates the above-described process to obtain enhanced CT datasets, focusing on the integration of MRI data obtained from frozen, Thiel-embalmed specimens. METHODS: Three Thiel-embalmed specimens were frozen in prone crawl position and MRI scanning protocols were evaluated based on contrast detail and structural conformity between 3D renderings from corresponding structures, segmented on corresponding MRI and CT scans. The measurement error of the dataset registration procedure was also assessed. RESULTS: Scanning protocol T1 VIBE FS enabled swift differentiation of soft tissues based on contrast detail, even allowing a fully detailed segmentation of the brachial plexus. Structural conformity between the reconstructed structures on CT and MRI was excellent, with nerves and blood vessels imported into the CT scan never intersecting with the bones. The mean measurement error for the image registration procedure was consistently in the submillimeter range (range 0.77-0.94 mm). CONCLUSION: Based on the excellent MRI image quality and the submillimeter error margin, the procedure of scanning frozen Thiel-embalmed specimens in the treatment position to obtain enhanced CT scans is recommended. The procedure can be used to support the postulation of delineation guidelines, or for training deep learning algorithms, considering automated segmentations.
PURPOSE: Thiel embalming followed by freezing in the desired position and acquiring CT + MRI scans is expected to be the ideal approach to obtain accurate, enhanced CT data for delineation guideline development. The effect of Thiel embalming and freezing on MRI image quality is not known. This study evaluates the above-described process to obtain enhanced CT datasets, focusing on the integration of MRI data obtained from frozen, Thiel-embalmed specimens. METHODS: Three Thiel-embalmed specimens were frozen in prone crawl position and MRI scanning protocols were evaluated based on contrast detail and structural conformity between 3D renderings from corresponding structures, segmented on corresponding MRI and CT scans. The measurement error of the dataset registration procedure was also assessed. RESULTS: Scanning protocol T1 VIBE FS enabled swift differentiation of soft tissues based on contrast detail, even allowing a fully detailed segmentation of the brachial plexus. Structural conformity between the reconstructed structures on CT and MRI was excellent, with nerves and blood vessels imported into the CT scan never intersecting with the bones. The mean measurement error for the image registration procedure was consistently in the submillimeter range (range 0.77-0.94 mm). CONCLUSION: Based on the excellent MRI image quality and the submillimeter error margin, the procedure of scanning frozen Thiel-embalmed specimens in the treatment position to obtain enhanced CT scans is recommended. The procedure can be used to support the postulation of delineation guidelines, or for training deep learning algorithms, considering automated segmentations.
Keywords:
Frozen and embalmed human cadaveric specimens; Image registration; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical image processing; Prone crawl position
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