Development of phantom materials with independently adjustable CT- and MR-contrast at 0.35, 1.5 and 3 T.

ABSTRACT

Quality assurance in magnetic resonance (MR)-guided radiotherapy lacks anthropomorphic phantoms that represent tissue-equivalent imaging contrast in both computed tomography (CT) and MR imaging. In this study, we developed phantom materials with individually adjustable CT value as well as [Formula see text]- and [Formula see text]-relaxation times in MR imaging at three different magnetic field strengths. Additionally, their experimental stopping power ratio (SPR) for carbon ions was compared with predictions based on single- and dual-energy CT. Ni-DTPA doped agarose gels were used for individual adjustment of [Formula see text] and [Formula see text] at [Formula see text] and 3.0 T. The CT value was varied by adding potassium chloride (KCl). By multiple linear regression, equations for the determination of agarose, Ni-DTPA and KCl concentrations for given [Formula see text] [Formula see text] and CT values were derived and employed to produce nine specific soft tissue samples. Experimental [Formula see text] [Formula see text] and CT values of these soft tissue samples were compared with predictions and additionally, carbon ion SPR obtained by range measurements were compared with predictions based on single- and dual-energy CT. The measured CT value, [Formula see text] and [Formula see text] of the produced soft tissue samples agreed very well with predictions based on the derived equations with mean deviations of less than [Formula see text] While single-energy CT overestimates the measured SPR of the soft tissue samples, the dual-energy CT-based predictions showed a mean SPR deviation of only [Formula see text] To conclude, anthropomorphic phantom materials with independently adjustable CT values as well as [Formula see text] and [Formula see text] relaxation times at three different magnetic field strengths were developed. The derived equations describe the material specific relaxation times and the CT value in dependence on agarose, Ni-DTPA and KCl concentrations as well as the chemical composition of the materials based on given [Formula see text] and CT value. Dual-energy CT allows accurate prediction of the carbon ion range in these materials.