MRI in radiotherapy for lung cancer: A free-breathing protocol at 3T

Imaging plays a significant role in radiation therapy. Improvements in treatment delivery require sophisticated imaging technologies to define tumor volume accurately. Magnetic resonance imaging scans can provide morphological and functional information and are increasingly being used in imaging for radiation therapy; however, for lung cancer, most protocols are based on breath-hold imaging and noncompliance to breath-hold maneuver can lead to significant artifacts. For patients presenting for lung cancer radiation therapy, maintaining a breath hold can be impossible. This paper describes a completely free-breathing lung magnetic resonance imaging protocol for use in radiation therapy for lung cancer.