Open AccessAn assessment of set up position for MRI scanning for the purposes of rectal cancer radiotherapy treatment planning
Author(s) -
Juresic Ewa,
Liney Gary P.,
Rai Robba,
Descalar Joseph,
Lee Mark,
Wong Karen,
Moses Daniel,
Veera Jacqueline,
Holloway Lois
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of medical radiation sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.484
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 2051-3909
pISSN - 2051-3895
DOI - 10.1002/jmrs.266
Subject(s) - supine position , medicine , nuclear medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , image quality , scanner , prone position , medical physics , radiology , radiation therapy , computer science , artificial intelligence , surgery , image (mathematics)
A magnetic resonance ( MR ) scanner for radiotherapy treatment simulation was commissioned in our department in June 2013. Practical set up and MR image quality trade‐offs using a variety of patient positions and immobilisation devices routinely used in the treatment planning of rectal cancer patients were considered. The study also aimed to investigate the MR compatibility of the device materials with a focus on temperature changes during routine clinical examinations. Methods Ten volunteers were scanned: (1) Prone on a Civco Contoura Bellyboard ( BBB ), (2) Prone on a Civco MR Series Bellyboard ( WBB ), (3) Prone with no bellyboard and (4) Supine. All scans were performed with a T 2 weighted ( T 2 ‐w) turbo spin echo ( TSE ) sequence. Images were scored by five assessors for: (1) ease of identifying specific organs, (2) overall image quality and (3) signal to noise ratio ( SNR ). Temperature changes were measured for each volunteer in each position. Results Both expert scores and SNR analysis demonstrated that images obtained in the supine position allowed for easier and clearer delineation of the organs. Image factors such as artefacts and noise, along with the overall image quality, also performed better in the supine position. The carbon fibre bellyboard did not demonstrate significant heating during scanning with the T 2 ‐w TSE transverse sequence. Conclusions A supine position was determined to be superior to the other positions in a majority of comparisons. The volunteers did not experience any increased temperature changes during scanning on the bellyboard in comparison to the other positions.