A pilot study of a novel method to visualize three-dimensional dose distribution on skin surface images to evaluate radiation dermatitis

Predicting the radiation dose‒toxicity relationship is important for local tumor control and patients’ quality of life. We developed a first intuitive evaluation system that directly matches the three-dimensional (3D) dose distribution with the skin surface image of patients with radiation dermatitis (RD) to predict RD in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Using an RGB-D camera, 82 3D skin surface images (3DSSIs) were acquired from 19 patients who underwent radiotherapy. 3DSSI data acquired included 3D skin surface shape and optical imaging of the area where RD occurs. Surface registration between 3D skin dose (3DSD) and 3DSSI is performed using the iterative closest point algorithm, then reconstructed as a two-dimensional color image. The developed system successfully matched 3DSSI and 3DSD, and visualized the planned dose distribution onto the patient's RD image. The dose distribution pattern was consistent with the occurrence pattern of RD. This new approach facilitated the evaluation of the direct correlation between skin-dose distribution and RD and, therefore, provides a potential to predict the probability of RD and thereby decrease RD severity by enabling informed treatment decision making by physicians. However, the results need to be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size.