The utilization of magnetic resonance imaging in the operating room.

Online image guidance in the operating room using ultrasound imaging led to the resurgence of prostate brachytherapy in the 1980s. Here we describe the evolution of integrating MRI technology in the brachytherapy suite or operating room. Given the complexity, cost, and inherent safety issues associated with MRI system integration, first steps focused on the computational integration of images rather than systems. This approach has broad appeal given minimal infrastructure costs and efficiencies comparable with standard care workflows. However, many concerns remain regarding accuracy of registration through the course of a brachytherapy procedure. In selected academic institutions, MRI systems have been integrated in or near the brachytherapy suite in varied configurations to improve the precision and quality of treatments. Navigation toolsets specifically adapted to prostate brachytherapy are in development and are reviewed.

Prediction of the T2-T12 kyphosis in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using a multivariate regression model.

The paper presents a nonlinear regression model built on the coronal thoracic curvature, the lumbar lordosis and the slope of the first lumbar vertebra in order to estimate the thoracic kyphosis measure between T2 and T12. To train the proposed model, a large database containing scoliotic spines demonstrating several types of scoliotic deformities was used to train the proposed system by a cross-validation method. Validation was performed on patients exhibiting three different types of sagittal thoracic profiles: normal, hypo-kyphotic, and hyper-kyphotic. Results show that a multivariate regression model based on dependent variables is able to predict with a reasonable accuracy the sagittal thoracic kyphosis for the automatic assessment and classification of the spinal curve.

A novel system for thE 3-D reconstruction of the human spine and rib cage from biplanar X-ray images.

The main objective of this study was to develop a 3-D X-ray reconstruction system of the spine and rib cage for an accurate 3-D clinical assessment of spinal deformities. The system currently used at Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montreal is based on an implicit calibration technique based on a direct linear transform (DLT), using a sufficiently large rigid object incorporated in the positioning apparatus to locate any anatomical structure to be reconstructed within its bounds. During the time lapse between the two successive X-ray acquisitions required for the 3-D reconstruction, involuntary patient motion introduce errors due to the incorrect epipolar geometry inferred from the stationary object. An approach using a new calibration jacket and explicit calibration algorithm is proposed in this paper. This approach yields accurate results and compensates for involuntary motion occurring between X-ray exposures.