CT Simulation Optimization for Radiation Therapy Contouring Tasks

A method for optimizing a CT simulation protocol for different size patients for contouring and segmentation of organs and tumors comprising:

• a. scanning different size phantoms, cadavers, or patients with a CT scanner to create a set of CT images, wherein CT scanning parameters are varied to create data sets for each different sized phantoms, cadavers, or patients and wherein radiation output of the CT scanner is recorded;
• b. calculating image quality indices (IQI) based on the data sets,
• c. selecting an optimum IQI from the IQI indices based on quality of CT images in the CT image set and on minimizing radiation output that produces the CT images;
• and
• d. creating a CT simulation protocol for a particular patient including CT scanning parameters, wherein the CT scanning parameters for the CT simulation protocol for the particular patient result in the optimal IQI.