Reconstructed MRI Images Guide Radiotherapy Treatment

Clinically, the MRI images reconstructed by Dracula can be used to guide a linear accelerator (Linac), thus serving as a novel platform to locate and deliver precisely targeted RT doses to tumors, minimizing the risk of affecting healthy organs. The study was published in the June 2021 issue of Radiotherapy and Oncology.

“Using an AI to rapidly reconstruct 4D MRI images of a cancer patient's anatomy lets us accurately determine the location of tumors and characterize their motion right before RT treatment,” said senior author Andreas Wetscherek, PhD, of the ICR. “It would be especially useful for cancers where we need to avoid the healthy organs around the tumor, such as pancreatic cancer, which currently limits the delivery of high doses of radiation to the tumor.”

To treat patients with tumors that move as they breathe, 4D MRI images are needed to show the 3D volume of the tumor and surrounding organs at different time points during breathing, known as a respiratory phase. By combining respiratory phases, the midposition (the average position of the tumor) is calculated, helping to accurately plan MRgRT. An alternative is to have a patient hold their breath, but this can be strenuous for the patient and makes treatment longer and more difficult.

Related Links:
The Institute of Cancer Research
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
German Cancer Research Center