title: Improving target definition for head and neck radiotherapy: a place for magnetic resonance imaging and 18-fluoride fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography?
abstract: Defining the target for head and neck radiotherapy is a critical issue with the introduction of steep dose gradients associated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Tumour delineation inaccuracies are a major source of error in radiotherapy planning. The integration of 18-fluoride fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET) and magnetic resonance imaging directly into the radiotherapy planning process has the potential to greatly improve target identification/selection and delineation. This raises a range of new issues surrounding image co-registration, delineation methodology and the use of functional data and treatment adaptation. This overview will discuss the practical aspects of integrating (18)FDG-PET and magnetic resonance imaging into head and neck radiotherapy planning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, St. James's Institute of Oncology, Leeds, UK. Robin.Prestwich@leedsth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: R J D
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Prestwich
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sykes
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Dyker
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Scarsbrook
mesh_terms: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18