Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40717207›Full record

ArticleJournal of applied clinical medical physics2025

A streamlined workflow for comprehensive 4DCT imaging QA with automated analysis of spatial integrity and image quality.

Yunjie Yang, Donghoon Lee, Matthew Whitaker, Wendy Harris, Jeho Jeong, Shih-Chi Lin, Ellen Yorke, Lakshmi Santanam, Grace Tang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yunjie YangDepartment of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8670-955X
Donghoon LeeDepartment of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6958-9937
Matthew WhitakerImage Owl, Inc., Greenwich, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1699-0451
Wendy HarrisDepartment of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9423-0779
Jeho JeongDepartment of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5156-5878
Shih-Chi LinDepartment of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5180-070X
Ellen YorkeDepartment of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2604-3140
Lakshmi SantanamDepartment of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
Grace TangDepartment of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6179-5343

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI Hongbiao Carl Lekaye · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeA comprehensive 4DCT QA program that includes the assessment of spatial integrity and image quality of 4D phantom scans can be resource-intensive, especially because the analysis burden scales with the number of motion traces used for QA. This work presents a streamlined and scalable workflow, enabled by the use of a widely available phantom and an automated analysis tool.

methodsFor 4DCT imaging QA, the Catphan was placed on the QUASAR motion platform, driven with sinusoidal motion traces of various amplitudes and frequencies. The acquired image sets were automatically analyzed using a newly designed 4DCT analysis module in TotalQA. The metrics of interest for 4DCT QA were analyzed for image sets of all motion bins and compared to the stationary reference image set. Three broad categories of imaging tests for 4DCT QA were defined: spatial integrity, HU constancy, and image quality. The sensitometry plugs in the Catphan were used as motion surrogates for evaluating spatial integrity, including the dimensions of the plugs and the observed motion amplitude in the scans. HU values of the sensitometry plugs in different phases were evaluated for consistency. For image quality, spatial resolution, low contrast resolution, and image noise were evaluated.

resultsCompared to the stationary reference CT, spatial integrity was within ±1 mm and the HU values were within two HU in the 4DCT for all phases. The spatial resolution was consistent while slightly higher noise was observed in the 4DCT images. The automated analysis in TotalQA was completed in approximately 20 min per motion trace, improving efficiency by more than 80% compared to the manual workflow.

conclusionsA streamlined 4DCT imaging QA workflow with automated analysis offers a robust assessment of imaging quality and motion accuracy in 4DCT scans, enabling an efficient and consistent QA process in large healthcare networks.

Indexed as

Four-Dimensional Computed TomographyImage Processing, Computer-AssistedPhantoms, ImagingQuality Assurance, Health CareRadiotherapy Planning, Computer-AssistedWorkflowAlgorithmsHumansRadiotherapy DosageRadiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated4‐dimensional computed tomographyautomationquality assurance

Identifiers

PMID40717207
PMCPMC12301078

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.