While performing prostate brachytherapy in which radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate, both X-ray and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) data are collected. The X-ray data indicate all of the implanted seeds, but not their relative position within the prostate. The TRUS data correspond to both axial and longitudinal ultrasound images. A subset of the implanted seeds can be automatically (or manually) detected in the TRUS data (using longitudinal ultrasound images), and the prostate is indicated in the TRUS data (using axial ultrasound images). Registration is performed between the X-ray and TRUS data, thereby identifying the disposition of all implanted seeds within the prostate, enabling dosimetry to be intraoperatively determined. A medical practitioner can thus determine whether and where to implant additional seeds to achieve a desired optimal dosage and do so before the prostate brachytherapy procedure is concluded.
INTRAOPERATIVE DOSIMETRY FOR PROSTATE BRACHYTHERAPY USING TRANSRECTAL ULTRASOUND AND X-RAY FLUOROSCOPY