Gynaecologic Organ Segmentation and Motion Tracking Using Ultrasound
Gynaecologic Organ Segmentation and Motion Tracking Using Ultrasound
This study will establish the feasibility and accuracy of localising and outlining the uterus
 on ultrasound images using both healthy volunteer and cervical patient cohorts. This will
 enable us to determine whether or not ultrasound will be a good option to ensure the correct
 patient position prior to radiotherapy for cervical cancer patients.
Radiotherapy is an established and effective method for treating cancer, but it can have
 negative side effects if healthy tissues are also exposed to radiation. In the case of
 cervical cancer, the bladder, small bowel, and bone marrow are often irradiated, which can
 result in both short-term and long-term side effects. There are sophisticated radiation
 delivery techniques (known as IMRT and VMAT) which are capable of administering the radiation
 dose in a precise and controlled manner so that the intended target is irradiated and the
 healthy tissue is spared. However, the only way for these sophisticated radiation delivery
 methods to work in cervical cancer is to localise the uterus prior to radiotherapy treatment
 so that the lineup between the radiation beam and the target is ensured. The uterus is a
 relatively mobile organ, and can have very different positions within the body depending on
 the patient position, bladder volume, tumour site, etc. Currently, we are unable to take
 advantage of the sophisticated radiation delivery techniques as we have no reliable way of
 seeing where the uterus is. Ultrasound is a promising way to overcome this problem.

 Ultrasound is non-ionising, has good soft-tissue contrast, and can easily be incorporated
 into the radiation treatment room. We wish to establish the feasibility and accuracy of
 localising and outlining the uterus on ultrasound images. This will enable us to determine
 whether or not ultrasound will be a good option to ensure the correct patient position prior
 to radiotherapy for cervical cancer patients.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  healthy volunteer cohort: Healthy female adult volunteers

 -  patient volunteer cohort: Patients receiving radiotherapy for cervical cancer who will
 receive a planning CT scan and daily CBCT scanning as part of their treatment.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  both cohorts: Women who have received hysterectomies and women who are pregnant at the
 time of the study