Comparison of different width detector on the gross tumor volume delineation of the solitary pulmonary lesion.

PURPOSE: To explore the impact of different width detector on the volume and geometric position of gross tumor volume (GTV) of the solitary pulmonary lesion (SPL), as well as the impact on scanning time and radiation dose during the simulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with SPL underwent three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) simulation using different width detector, followed by four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans. GTV16 and GTV4 derived from different width detectors were compared with internal gross tumor volume (IGTV) generated from 4DCT on the volume and geometric position. Fourteen patients with lesions located in the upper lobe were defined as Group A and nine patients in the middle or lower lobe were defined as Group B. The scanning time and radiation dose during the simulation with the different width detector were compared as well. RESULTS: The volumes of IGTV, GTV16, and GTV4 in Group A were 13.86 ± 14.42 cm3, 11.88 ± 11.93 cm3, and 11.64 ± 12.88 cm3, respectively, and the corresponding volumes in Group B were 12.84 ± 11.48 cm3, 6.90 ± 6.63 cm3, and 7.22 ± 7.15 cm3, respectively. No difference was found between GTV16 and GTV4 in Groups A and B (PA = 0.11, PB = 0.86). Either GTV16 or GTV4 was smaller than IGTV (P16 = 0.001, P4 = 0.000). The comparison of the centroidal positions in x, y, and z directions for GTV16, GTV4, and IGTV showed no significant difference both in Groups A and B (Group A: Px = 0.19, Py = 0.14, Pz = 0.47. Group B: Px = 0.09, Py = 0.90, Pz = 0.90). The scanning time was shorter and radiation dose patient received was lower using 16 × 1.5 mm detector combination than 4 × 1.5 mm detector (P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Different width detector had no impact on the volume and geometric position of GTV of SPL during 3DCT simulation. Using wide detector would save time and decrease radiation dose compared with the narrow one. 3DCT simulation using either 16 × 1.5 mm detector or 4 × 1.5 mm detector could not cover all tumor motion information that 4DCT offered under free breathing conditions.