Summary Magnetic resonance‐guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) is a promising approach to improving clinical outcomes for patients treated with radiation therapy. The roles of image guidance, adaptive planning and magnetic resonance imaging in radiation therapy have been increasing over the last two decades. Technical advances have led to the feasible combination of magnetic resonance imaging and radiation therapy technologies, leading to improved soft‐tissue visualisation, assessment of inter‐ and intrafraction motion, motion management, online adaptive radiation therapy and the incorporation of functional information into treatment. MRgRT can potentially transform radiation oncology by improving tumour control and quality of life after radiation therapy and increasing convenience of treatment by shortening treatment courses for patients. Multiple groups have developed clinical implementations of MRgRT predominantly in the abdomen and pelvis, with patients having been treated since 2014. While studies of MRgRT have primarily been dosimetric so far, an increasing number of trials are underway examining the potential clinical benefits of MRgRT, with coordinated efforts to rigorously evaluate the benefits of the promising technology. This review discusses the current implementations, studies, potential benefits and challenges of MRgRT.
Introduction: Magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) has the potential to improve treatment processes and outcomes for a variety of tumour sites; however, it requires significant clinical resources. Magnetic resonance linear accelerator (MRlinac) treatments require a daily multidisciplinary presence for delivery. To facilitate sustainable MRgART models, agreed protocols facilitating therapeutic radiographer (RTT)-led delivery must be developed to establish a service similar to conventional imageguided radiotherapy (IGRT). This work provides a clinical perspective on the implementation of a protocol-driven 'clinician-lite' MRgART workflow at one institution. Methods: To identify knowledge, skills, and competence required at each step in the MRgART workflow, an interdisciplinary informal survey and needs assessment were undertaken to identify additional or enhanced skills required for MRgART, over and above those required for conventional cone-beam computed tomography-based IGRT. The MRgART pathway was critically evaluated by relevant professionals to encourage multidisciplinary input and discussion, allowing an iterative development of the RTT-led workflow. Starting with the simplest online adaptation strategy, consisting of a virtual couch shift and online replanning, clear guidelines were established for the delivery of radical prostate radiotherapy with a reduction in staff numbers present. Results: The MRgART-specific skills identified included MRI safety and screening, MR image acquisition, MRI-based anatomy, multimodality image interpretation and registration, and treatment plan evaluation. These skills were developed in RTTs via tutorials, workshops, focussed self-directed reading, teaching of colleagues, and endto-end workflow testing. After initial treatments and discussions, roles and responsibilities of the three professional groups (clinicians, RTTs, and physicists) have evolved to achieve a 'clinician-lite' workflow for simple radical prostate treatments. Discussion: Through applying a definitive framework and establishing agreed threshold and action levels for action within anticipated treatment scenarios similar to those in cone-beam computed tomography-based IGRT, we have implemented a 'clinician-lite' workflow for simple adaptive treatments on the MR-linac. The responsibility for online plan evaluation and approval now rests with physicists and RTTs to streamline MRgART. Early evaluation of the framework after treatment of 10 patients has required minimal online clinician input (1.5% of 200 fractions delivered). Conclusion: A 'clinician-lite' prostate treatment workflow has been successfully introduced on the MR-linac at our institution and will serve as a model for other tumour sites, using more complex adaptive
PurposeDose deposition around unplanned air cavities during magnetic resonance‐guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) is influenced by the electron return effect (ERE). This is clinically relevant for gas forming close to or inside organs at risk (OARs) that lie in the path of a single beam, for example, intestinal track during pelvic treatment. This work aims to verify Monte Carlo calculations that predict the dosimetric effects of ERE around air cavities. For this, we use GafChromic EBT3 film inside poly‐methyl methacrylate (PMMA) –air phantoms.MethodFour PMMA phantoms were produced. Three of the phantoms contained centrally located spherical air cavities (0.5, 3.5, 7.5 cm diameter), and one phantom contained no air. The phantoms were split to sandwich GafChromic EBT3 film in the center. The phantoms were irradiated on an Elekta Unity system using a single 10 × 10 cm2 7‐MV photon beam under the influence of a 1.5‐T transverse magnetic field. The measurements were replicated using the Elekta Monaco treatment planning system (TPS). Gamma analysis with pass criteria 3%/3 mm was used to compare the measured and calculated dose distributions. We also consider 3%/2 mm, 2%/3 mm, and 2%/2 mm pass criteria for interest.ResultsThe gamma analysis showed that >95% of the points agreed between the TPS‐calculated and measured dose distributions, using 3%/3 mm criteria. The phantom containing the largest air cavity had the lowest agreement, with most of the disagreeing points lying inside the air cavity (dose to air region).ConclusionsThe dose effects due to ERE around spherical air cavities are being calculated in the TPS with sufficient accuracy for clinical use.
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