Accurate frameless registration of MR and CT images of the head: applications in planning surgery and radiation therapy

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a three-dimensional image registration technique for planning skull base surgery, performing frameless image registration for stereotaxic neurosurgery, and staging nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Materials and methods: Computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images from 35 patients were registered by identifying 12-16 homologous landmarks with each modality. Images were displayed as overlaid sections or rendered three-dimensional scenes. The clarity of the combined images from 15 patients undergoing skull base surgery was compared with that of the conventional displays.

Results: Images were combined for three applications, with an accuracy of 1-2 mm. For the 15 patients undergoing skull base surgery, the combined images were significantly better at depicting the relationship between bone and lesion than conventional display (P < .01).

Conclusion: MR and CT images of the head can be accurately registered without using external markers or substantially altering image acquisition protocols. The resulting images can show the radiologic information more clearly than conventional viewing.