IQWorks: A Uniform Framework for the Objective Assessment and Optimisation of Radiotherapy Image Quality

Image guidance has rapidly become central to current radiotherapy practice. In this work a uniform framework is developed for evaluating image quality across all imaging modalities by modelling the 'universal phantom': breaking any phantom down into its constituent fundamental test objects and applying appropriate analysis techniques to these through the construction of an automated analysis tree. This is implemented practically through the new software package 'IQWorks'. Examples are presented of the framework applied to the performance evaluation of a range of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging modalities, including X-ray computed tomography (CT), cone-beam CT (CBCT), electronic portal imaging (EPI), digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs), digital radiographic imaging and display devices.