Assessment of Gadobutrol Safety in Combination with Ionizing Radiation Using a Preclinical MRI-Guided Radiotherapy Model

Feasibility and safety of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiotherapy for upper abdominal tumors: A preliminary exploration

This study investigates the use of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) in MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) for upper abdominal tumors. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR (cT1w MR) using half doses of gadoterate was used to guide daily adaptive radiotherapy for tumors poorly visualized without contrast. The use of gadoterate was found to be feasible and safe in 5-fraction MRgART and could improve the contrast-to-noise ratio of MR images. And the use of cT1w MR could reduce the interobserver variation of adaptive tumor delineation compared to plain T1w MR (4.41 vs. 6.58, p < 0.001) and T2w MR (4.41 vs. 7.42, p < 0.001).

Evaluating contouring accuracy and dosimetry impact of current MRI-guided adaptive radiation therapy for brain metastases: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) has gained increasing attention, showing clinical advantages over conventional radiotherapy. However, there are concerns regarding online target delineation and modification accuracy. In our study, we aimed to investigate the accuracy of brain metastases (BMs) contouring and its impact on dosimetry in 1.5 T MRI-guided online adaptive fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT).

METHODS

Eighteen patients with 64 BMs were retrospectively evaluated. Pre-treatment 3.0 T MRI scans (gadolinium contrast-enhanced T1w, T1c) and initial 1.5 T MR-Linac scans (non-enhanced online-T1, T2, and FLAIR) were used for gross target volume (GTV) contouring. Five radiation oncologists independently contoured GTVs on pre-treatment T1c and initial online-T1, T2, and FLAIR images. We assessed intra-observer and inter-observer variations and analysed the dosimetry impact through treatment planning based on GTVs generated by online MRI, simulating the current online adaptive radiotherapy practice.

RESULTS

The average Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) for inter-observer comparison were 0.79, 0.54, 0.59, and 0.64 for pre-treatment T1c, online-T1, T2, and FLAIR, respectively. Inter-observer variations were significantly smaller for the 3.0 T pre-treatment T1c than for the contrast-free online 1.5 T MR scans (P < 0.001). Compared to the T1c contours, the average DSC index of intra-observer contouring was 0.52‒0.55 for online MRIs. For BMs larger than 3 cm3, visible on all image sets, the average DSC indices were 0.69, 0.71 and 0.64 for online-T1, T2, and FLAIR, respectively, compared to the pre-treatment T1c contour. For BMs < 3 cm3, the average visibility rates were 22.3%, 41.3%, and 51.8% for online-T1, T2, and FLAIR, respectively. Simulated adaptive planning showed an average prescription dose coverage of 63.4‒66.9% when evaluated by ground truth planning target volumes (PTVs) generated on pre-treatment T1c, reducing it from over 99% coverage by PTVs generated on online MRIs.

CONCLUSIONS

The accuracy of online target contouring was unsatisfactory for the current MRI-guided online adaptive FSRT. Small lesions had poor visibility on 1.5 T non-contrast-enhanced MR-Linac images. Contour inaccuracies caused a one-third drop in prescription dose coverage for the target volume. Future studies should explore the feasibility of contrast agent administration during daily treatment in MRI-guided online adaptive FSRT procedures.

ACPSEM position paper: the safety of magnetic resonance imaging linear accelerators

Magnetic Resonance Imaging linear-accelerator (MRI-linac) equipment has recently been introduced to multiple centres in Australia and New Zealand. MRI equipment creates hazards for staff, patients and others in the MR environment; these hazards must be well understood, and risks managed by a system of environmental controls, written procedures and a trained workforce. While MRI-linac hazards are similar to the diagnostic paradigm, the equipment, workforce and environment are sufficiently different that additional safety guidance is warranted. In 2019 the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) formed the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Linear-Accelerator Working Group (MRILWG) to support the safe clinical introduction and optimal use of MR-guided radiation therapy treatment units. This Position Paper is intended to provide safety guidance and education for Medical Physicists and others planning for and working with MRI-linac technology. This document summarises MRI-linac hazards and describes particular effects which arise from the combination of strong magnetic fields with an external radiation treatment beam. This document also provides guidance on safety governance and training, and recommends a system of hazard management tailored to the MRI-linac environment, ancillary equipment, and workforce.

Current practices and perspectives on the integration of contrast agents in MRI-guided radiation therapy clinical practice: a worldwide survey

Aims

The introduction of on-line magnetic resonance image-guided radiotherapy (MRIgRT) has led to an improvement in the therapeutic workflow of radiotherapy treatments thanks to the better visualization of therapy volumes assured by the higher soft tissue contrast. Magnetic Resonance contrast agents (MRCA) could improve the target delineation in on-line MRIgRT planning as well as reduce inter-observer variability and enable innovative treatment optimization protocols. The aim of this survey is to investigate the utilization of MRCA among centres that clinically implemented on-line MRIgRT technology.

Methods

In September 2021, we conducted an online survey consisting of a sixteen-question questionnaire that was distributed to the all the hospitals around the world equipped with MR Linacs. The questionnaire was developed by two Italian 0.35 T and 1.5 T MR-Linac centres and was validated by four other collaborating centres, using a Delphi consensus methodology.

Results

The survey was distributed to 52 centres and 43 centres completed it (82.7%). Among these centres, 23 institutions (53.5%) used the 0.35T MR-Linac system, while the remaining 20 (46.5%) used the 1.5T MR-Linac system.According to results obtained, 25 (58%) of the centres implemented the use of MRCA for on-line MRIgRT. Gadoxetate (Eovist®; Primovist®) was reported to be the most used MRCA (80%) and liver the most common site of application (58%). Over 70% of responders agreed/strongly agreed to the need for international guidelines.

Conclusions

The use of MRCA in clinical practice presents several pitfalls and future research will be necessary to understand the actual advantage derived from the use of MRCA in clinical practice, their toxicity profiles and better define the need of formulating guidelines for standardising the use of MRCA in MRIgRT workflow.