Radiology, Vol 156, 143-147, Copyright © 1985 by Radiological Society of North America
MR imaging in radiation therapy planning. Work in progress
WP Shuman, BR Griffin, DR Haynor, JS Johnson, DC Jones, LD Cromwell and AA Moss
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may provide information about tumor
location, extent, and margins unavailable from other imaging modalities.
The impact of MR on radiation therapy planning was investigated in this
study. Thirty patients about to undergo radiation therapy underwent routine
radiography and computed tomography (CT) to define the extent of their
disease. A radiation therapy plan, including portal placement and size, was
drawn up based on this information alone. The patients also underwent MR
studies. After the original therapy plan was created, the MR study results
were made available to the radiation therapist. In 53% (16/30) of the
cases, MR information led to a measurable change in the therapy plan; in an
additional 33% (10/30), MR information increased confidence in the original
plan. MR may become a necessary procedure for radiation therapy planning in
many cases.
