Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sequences and Technologies in Adaptive Radiation Therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Physics
• Radiotherapy

Background:

• Traditional radiation therapy faces challenges with tumor visibility and daily anatomical variations.
• Computed tomography (CT) simulation and cone beam CT (CBCT) have limitations in soft tissue contrast.
• Accurate tumor targeting is crucial for effective cancer treatment and minimizing side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy (ART) technologies.
• To discuss the advantages of hybrid MR-Linac systems in radiation oncology.
• To provide guidance on protocol optimization for clinical implementation of MR-guided ART.

Main Methods:

• Review of hybrid Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and linear accelerator (Linac) systems.
• Discussion of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) pulse sequence selection and parameter optimization.
• Exploration of clinical implementation strategies for various disease sites.

Main Results:

• MR-Linacs offer superior soft tissue visualization compared to CT-based methods.
• Enhanced visualization allows for precise tracking of tumor and organ-at-risk changes.
• Potential for real-time adaptation of radiation therapy plans based on daily anatomical variations.

Conclusions:

• MR-guided ART represents a significant advancement in radiation oncology.
• Hybrid MR-Linac systems enable more accurate and personalized cancer treatments.
• Protocol optimization is key for successful clinical integration of MR-guided ART.