Clinical experience and workflow challenges with magnetic resonance-only radiation therapy simulation and planning for prostate cancer Journal Article


Authors: Tyagi, N.; Zelefsky, M. J.; Wibmer, A.; Zakian, K.; Burleson, S.; Happersett, L.; Halkola, A.; Kadbi, M.; Hunt, M.
Article Title: Clinical experience and workflow challenges with magnetic resonance-only radiation therapy simulation and planning for prostate cancer
Abstract: Background and purpose: Magnetic Resonance (MR)-only planning has been implemented clinically for radiotherapy of prostate cancer. However, fewer studies exist regarding the overall success rate of MR-only workflows. We report on successes and challenges of implementing MR-only workflows for prostate. Materials and methods: A total of 585 patients with prostate cancer underwent an MR-only simulation and planning between 06/2016 – 06/2018. MR simulation included images for contouring, synthetic-CT generation and fiducial identification. Workflow interruptions occurred that required a backup CT, a re-simulation or an update to our current quality assurance (QA) process. The challenges were prospectively evaluated and classified into synthetic-CT generation, motion/artifacts in the MRs, fiducial QA and bowel preparation guidelines. Results: MR-only simulation was successful in 544 (93.2%) patients. In seventeen patients (2.9%), reconstruction of synthetic-CT failed due to patient size, femur angulation, or failure to determine the body contour. Twenty-four patients (4.1%) underwent a repeat/backup CT scan because of artifacts on the MR such as image blur due to patient motion or biopsy/surgical artifacts that hampered identification of the implanted fiducial markers. In patients requiring large coverage due to nodal involvement, inhomogeneity artifacts were resolved by using a two-stack acquisition and adaptive inhomogeneity correction. Bowel preparation guidelines were modified to address frequent rectum/gas issues due to longer MR scan time. Conclusions: MR-only simulation has been successfully implemented for a majority of patients in the clinic. However, MR-CT or CT-only pathway may still be needed for patients where MR-only solution fails or patients with MR contraindications. © 2020 The Authors
Keywords: prostate cancer; mrcat; synthetic ct; mr-only simulation
Journal Title: Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology
Volume: 16
ISSN: 2405-6316
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.  
Date Published: 2020-10-01
Start Page: 43
End Page: 49
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.phro.2020.09.009
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC7598055
PUBMED: 33134566
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 November 2020 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Michael J Zelefsky
    754 Zelefsky
  2. Kristen L Zakian
    82 Zakian
  3. Margie A Hunt
    287 Hunt
  4. Neelam Tyagi
    153 Tyagi
  5. Andreas Georg Wibmer
    54 Wibmer