Use of magnetic resonance imaging in low-dose-rate and high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy from diagnosis to treatment assessment: Defining the knowledge gaps, technical challenges, and barriers to implementation.
MRI is rapidly evolving as an imaging tool in both low-dose-rate and high-dose-rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer. The ability of MRI to identify intraprostatic tumors and reduce uncertainties in the workflow process should enable a more accurate and precise radiation delivery approach while simultaneously improving the quality assurance process. The ability to identify functional anatomic structures adjacent to the prostate cancer could reduce or eliminate some of the more common side effects of the treatment. However, MRI is complex, and collaborative efforts and future research are required to address the current knowledge gaps, technical challenges, and barriers to widespread the implementation of MRI-assisted and MRI-guided prostate brachytherapy.
Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Electronic address: sjfrank@mdanderson.org.
S J
SJ
Frank
Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, Newark, DE.
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F
Mourtada
Department of Surgery, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Center for the Southern Interior, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
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J
Crook
University of Montréal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada; Techna Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
C
C
Ménard
HDR; LDR; MRI physics; MRI-assisted radiosurgery; Magnetic resonance imaging; Prostate brachytherapy; Prostate cancer; Pulse sequences