Revolutionizing Cancer Care: The Power and Precision of MR Linac Technology
Added : (
Wed Jan 31 2024
)
By Dr. Pradeep Kumar Karumanchi, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, Yashoda Hospitals
Revolutionizing Cancer Care: The Power and Precision of MR Linac Technology
What is MR Linac?
MR Linac stands for magnetic resonance-guided linear accelerator. It is an innovative and advanced approach that combines two technologies - an MRI scanner and a linear accelerator. This technology allows the doctor to visualise the tumours in real-time during radiotherapy and also provides accurate monitoring and positioning of the radiation beams directly on the tumour.
What is MR Linac used for?
MR Linac is used to treat patients who are suffering from cancer. It delivers high-energy x-rays to the region of the patient’s tumour. Radiation Oncologists use these kind of machines to targets and kills the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue unharmed with precision.
Continuous MRI is used by the MR Linac to view the motion of the organs and soft tissue. This enables medical professionals to monitor tumour migration and adjust treatment plans accordingly. This is helpful for tumours that have a tendency to move about in the liver, pancreas, intestines, bladder, prostate, cervix, uterus, breast and lungs.
Why MR Linac?
Unlike conventional or traditional approaches, the MR-Linac uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor the target area while delivering radiation beams. With this unique combination of technology, doctors can see the tumour and internal anatomy in real time, giving them exceptional control over radiation delivery by visualising internal anatomy. They can personalise and adapt each treatment with never-before-seen precision and accuracy.
What are the benefits of MR Linac over conventional radiotherapy?
The advantages of MR Linac over conventional radiotherapy are as follows:
● Precise delivery: MR Linac enables high doses of radiation to the tumour in less time.
● Superior imaging capabilities compared to CT: While the linear accelerator precisely focuses on the tumour and delivers high-energy beams, the MRI component generates high-definition, real-time images of the tumour.
● Detailed visualisation of tumours with 1.5 Tesla MR-Linac device: Many tumours shift throughout therapy and in between sessions due to changes in body composition or functioning. MR Linac assists in continuously monitoring these modifications and re-optimizing treatment.
● Precise tumour differentiation, preserving adjacent healthy tissue, and customised tumour cell targeting: Each patient has different treatment requirements, and MR Linac ensures high-precision tumour targeting while minimising damage to surrounding tissues by visualising the position, size, and form of the tumour.
● Enhanced clinical outcomes: MR Linac's adaptive customisation and real-time visualisation enable optimal radiation treatment, ensuring the best potential treatment outcomes.
● Enhanced local control and less toxicity: Daily dose reshaping and treatment adaptation are made possible by MR-Linac, which also reduces the risk of complications and increases progression-free survival rates by optimising the radiation dose administered to the tumour while minimising radiation exposure.
● Dynamic seamless sessions: Radiation is given with continuous target visualisation during the course of treatment. This enables real-time plan modification and adaptation to guarantee the best possible results.
● Shorter treatment duration: MR Linac can deliver high doses of radiation in shorter span of treatment time with precision and accuracy so that overall treatment time can be greatly reduced compared to conventional LINAC.
Who operates MR Linac?
The appropriate dosage and volume of treatment are prescribed by the Radiation Oncologists. The medical physicist and the dosimetrist figure out how to deliver the prescribed dose. They also calculate how long the accelerator will need to deliver that dosage. In addition to administering patient’s daily treatments, radiation therapists operate the linear accelerator and the MRI scanner.
What are the clinical applications of MR Linac?
MR Linac is used for cancers such as:
● Prostate cancer
● Head and neck cancer
● Rectal cancer
● Pancreatic cancer
● Breast cancer
● Brain cancer
● Bladder cancer
● Liver cancer
● Lung cancer
● Cervical cancer
● Uterine cancer
● Bladder cancer
● Gall Bladder cancer
● Esophageal cancer
How safe is MR Linac?
The MR-LINAC is a device that has FDA approval. To make sure it will administer the dosage as instructed, security features have been built into it. It is regularly checked by medical physicists to make sure it is operating correctly.
● Before treatment: The radiation oncologist creates a plan before therapy. The plan is assisted by the medical physicist and radiation dosimetrist. To guarantee that they provide the treatment according to plan, the treatment team carries out quality-assurance processes.
● During treatment: The radiation therapist uses a closed-circuit television monitor to watch the patient as they receive therapy. In order to facilitate communication between the patient and staff, a microphone is also provided in the treatment area.
Revolutionizing Cancer Care: The Power and Precision of MR Linac Technology
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