Magnetic Resonance Imaging Simulation of the Skull Base, Oral Cavity, Pharynx, and Larynx: Advanced Imaging Protocol for a Radiation Oncology Center
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Head and neck radiation oncology, with its complex locality and epidemiology, requires various imaging techniques to achieve sufficient visualization. Through collaboration with medical physicists, radiation therapists, radiation oncologists, and neuroradiologists, our group clinically implemented a standard set of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences on an MR-simulation scanner for three anatomical regions: skull base, oral cavity, and larynx/pharynx. A total of 41 patients with head and neck cancer and 3 volunteers were scanned on either a 1.5T or 3T MR-simulation scanner. Sequences described include Dixon-based approaches, SPAIR-based approaches, short T2-based approaches, and quantitative imaging methods. We describe and outline the steps to optimize these notable MRI sequences to aid in successful implementation in a radiation oncology clinic.
Source: medRxiv
Language: English
Subfield: Radiation
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: University of Texas System, Elekta, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, NRG Oncology, Siemens Healthineers, National Institutes of Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Awards: G1291085898, G2798018396, G293715275, G4335188263, G5493083727, Development of functional magnetic resonance imaging-guided adaptive radiotherapy for head and neck cancer patients using novel MR-Linac device, SCH: Personalized Rescheduling of Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Head & Neck Cancer, Cancer Center Support Grant
OpenAlex ID: W7221000804