MR imaging only radiotherapy planning site-specific analysis (MIMOSA)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
MR imaging only radiotherapy planning site-specific analysis: a prospective technical validation and clinical feasibility study (MIMOSA)
IRAS ID
337305
Contact name
Caroline Dobeson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
This is a prospective study evaluating the various processes required to safely implement an MR-only radiotherapy treatment pathway in place of the current pathway which utilises both CT and MRI scanning.
The current radiotherapy treatment pathway involves the use of two types of scans in order to design a patient's radiotherapy plan: CT and MRI. MRI is superior in terms of image quality and allows radiotherapy doctors to see both the treatment target and important nearby organs much more clearly than on a CT scan. However, a CT scan is currently needed to allow the treatment staff to make important calculations about the radiation dose that is being delivered to the patient.
In the last few years, software has been developed to allow us to generate a ‘synthetic’ CT image from an MRI scan of a patient. The synthetic CT gives radiotherapy treatment teams the ability to calculate radiation doses to the tumour and surrounding organs without the need for an actual CT scan. The advantages of 'MR-only radiotherapy' include better image quality allowing more precise treatment design, potentially less side-effects and time-efficiency as the need for a separate CT appointment slot is eliminated, and patients are exposed to less radiation.
This study intends to evaluate the various steps required to ensure we can safely transition towards using MRI only to treat specific patients in radiotherapy.
- Phase 1: Technical validation of synthetic CT software and training of radiographers on treatment machines
- Phase 2: Clinical feasibility of implementing MR only workflow (This phase will involve treating patients in radiotherapy using only their MRI scan in the design process. However, all of these patients will have a back-up CT scan for us to use should there be any concerns with the synthetic CT.)REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0305
Date of REC Opinion
10 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion