MRI for radiotherapy guidelines: A comparative review of recommendations by IPEM topical report, AAPM TG-284, and NCS...

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiotherapy
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background:

• Multiple international guidelines for MRI in radiotherapy (RT) have been published recently.
• Practitioners face challenges in selecting appropriate guidelines for specific clinical scenarios.
• Guidelines originate from the AAPM (US), IPEM (UK), and NCS (NL).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare and contrast the recommendations of the three major international MRI in RT guidelines.
• To identify areas of convergence and divergence among the guidelines.
• To provide a practical resource for informed decision-making in implementing MRI in RT.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of scope, content, and recommendations from three key international guidelines.
• Synthesis of information to highlight similarities and differences.
• Focus on practical application for the medical physics community.

Main Results:

• The review identifies specific areas where the guidelines align and where they present differing recommendations.
• A detailed comparison of the scope and content of each guideline is presented.
• The synthesis provides clarity on how to utilize these guidelines cohesively.

Conclusions:

• This comparative overview assists medical physicists in navigating the available MRI in RT guidelines.
• It supports more consistent and informed implementation of MRI technology in radiotherapy.
• The resource facilitates better decision-making for integrating MRI into RT workflows.