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Real-Time MRI-Guided Particle Therapy

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MRI for Radiotherapy

Abstract

Real-time MRI guidance for x-ray beam radiotherapy has been delivered clinically since 2014. Many engineering challenges of integrating x-ray therapy systems capable of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with MRI scanners have therefore been overcome. As promised with the straightforward concept of using real-time image guidance with superior-quality MRI, early clinical results indicate positive improvements over conventional IGRT, and more challenging tumour sites are being treated. In essence, the x-ray beam-based radiotherapy community is now expanding into the direction of MRI guidance more than ever before. This leads us to propose a new challenge with even higher complexity and higher stakes: what can real-time MRI guidance offer for particle therapy? Particle therapy planning, delivery and outcome are inherently more dependent on having accurate knowledge of the patient anatomy than x-ray therapy. Utilising real-time and anatomically correct patient soft tissue information should expand the horizons in terms of treatment delivery accuracy, however propose a new set of engineering challenges in the already complex domain of particle therapy. In this chapter we provide a broad overview of the important elements of real-time MRI-guided particle therapy (MRPT). This includes the rationale, current literature, treatment workflows, engineering challenges and finally a concept design to illustrate some of the complexities of the modality.

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges funding from NHMRC Programme Grant No. 1036078 and ARC Discovery Grant No. DP120100821. The author also acknowledges a research agreement with Ion Beam Applications (IBA) and helpful discussions with P. J. Keall and P. E. Metcalfe regarding the content of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Bradley M. Oborn

  2. Illawarra Cancer Care Centre, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Bradley M. Oborn

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  1. Bradley M. Oborn
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Physics, Ingham Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Gary Liney

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands

    Uulke van der Heide

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Oborn, B.M. (2019). Real-Time MRI-Guided Particle Therapy. In: Liney, G., van der Heide, U. (eds) MRI for Radiotherapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14442-5_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14442-5_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-14441-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-14442-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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