Promotionsvortrag Physik: Fortschritte im patientenspezifischen Bewegungs- und Dosismanagement in der Compu-tertomographie für die Strahlentherapie

Ankündigung des Promotionsvortrags von: Herrn Niklas Lackner

Modern radiotherapy relies on computed tomography (CT) for geometrically accurate imaging and electron density information required for dose calculation, target delineation, and treatment planning. However, respiratory motion, inconsistent scan coverage and imaging dose, and the lack of automated quality assurance (QA) can compromise image quality, geometric accuracy, and the consistency of planning CT acquisitions.

This presentation summarizes the three complementary developments of my doctoral thesis. First, a novel respiratory surrogate and visual feedback system that monitors respiratory motion, compensates for table-induced distortions, and provides real-time breathing guidance with robust signals under challenging conditions. Second, the feasibility of surface-guided motion-adaptive four-dimensional CT (4DCT) as an alternative to the established infrared-marker standard. Combining phantom experiments, characterization of patient-specific breathing patterns from a clinical cohort, and prototype development, it achieved artifact-reduced imaging comparable to infrared-marker tracking. Third, an intelligent dose management system for automated QA of planning CTs. Ap-plied to over 13,000 examinations, it identified protocol deviations enabling harmonized scan lengths, optimized tube current modulation, and more standardized workflows.

Together, these developments improve the robustness and safety of planning CTs through advances in motion management and automated quality assurance.

(Vortrag auf Englisch)

Dem Vortrag schließt sich eine Diskussion von 15 Minuten an. Vortrag und Diskussion sind öffentlich. Diesen Verfahrensteilen folgt ein nicht öffentliches Rigorosum von 45 Minuten.