title: Detection of brachytherapy seeds using 3D ultrasound.
abstract: Imaging and detection of brachytherapy seeds using transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) remains a challenge for prostate brachytherapy, mainly due to the small size of brachytherapy seeds in relatively low-quality B-mode TRUS images. In this paper, we propose a new solution for brachytherapy seed detection using 3D ultrasound. We use 3D reflected power images computed from ultrasound radio-frequency signals, instead of using conventional B-mode images. Then implanted seeds are detected in 3D local search spaces that are determined by a priori knowledge. Experimental results showed that the proposed solution works well for seed localization in the prostate phantom.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2332 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada. wenx@ece.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Salcudean
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*