title: Quantitative Imaging in Radiation Oncology: An Emerging Science and Clinical Service.
abstract: Radiation oncology has long required quantitative imaging approaches for the safe and effective delivery of radiation therapy. The past 10 years has seen a remarkable expansion in the variety of novel imaging signals and analyses that are starting to contribute to the prescription and design of the radiation treatment plan. These include a rapid increase in the use of magnetic resonance imaging, development of contrast-enhanced imaging techniques, integration of fluorinated deoxyglucose-positron emission tomography, evaluation of hypoxia imaging techniques, and numerous others. These are reviewed with an effort to highlight challenges related to quantification and reproducibility. In addition, several of the emerging applications of these imaging approaches are also highlighted. Finally, the growing community of support for establishing quantitative imaging approaches as we move toward clinical evaluation is summarized and the need for a clinical service in support of the clinical science and delivery of care is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; TECHNA Institute/University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: David.Jaffray@rmp.uhn.on.ca.
authors.forename: David Anthony
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jaffray
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; TECHNA Institute/University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coolens
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; TECHNA Institute/University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Foltz
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; TECHNA Institute/University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; TECHNA Institute/University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menard
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milosevic
authors.affiliation: TECHNA Institute/University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Publicover
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; TECHNA Institute/University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yeung
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media