MRI in Radiation Therapy
Member-Initiated Symposium

ORGANIZERS: Mark Ladd, Rob Tijssen, Cornelis van den Berg

Thursday, 21 June 2018

Session Number: MIS-20

Overview
MRI-guided radiotherapy (RT) is no longer a niche area of engineering research. The major vendors have realised that the radiotherapy market has huge potential and are now offering scanners with dedicated RT options to aid the MRI-RT workflow. Moreover, the hybrid MRI-Linac concept, which offers direct imaging during radiotherapy, has now been commercialised by two separate vendors. It is expected that more than 250 machines will be installed world-wide by 2020. The first clinical trials are currently being conducted.
The symposium will introduce the ISMRM community to key opinion leaders from MRI-guided RT in order to create awareness of the opportunities and challenges in this new field. It is important for continuation of the growth of MRI in RT that medical physicists from radiotherapy and MR physicists from the ISMRM are brought together.

During this symposium the audience will learn that MRI has great value in radiotherapy, because of the direct influence it has on improved patient outcome. Six prominent researchers and clinicians will share their latest insights and technological developments. The session concludes with an interactive panel discussion, led by the organisers, about the MR methods needed to advance the field.
The MRI-guided RT symposium will be a welcome addition to the meeting program. Apart from introducing new people to this exciting new field, it will also provide a common forum for people already working in radiotherapy to meet and share ideas.

Target Audience
Clinicians and researchers interested in a new application called MRI-guided radiotherapy that is rapidly finding its way into the clinic right now.

Educational Objectives
As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to:
- Explain how MR-guided radiotherapy is becoming a clinical reality;
- Identify the latest clinical trials and realise that the value proposition of MR in therapy is extremely high;
- Describe the synergy between diagnostic MR methods development and methods for MR therapy; and
- Recognize technical challenges of MRI in RT and related opportunities for MR physicists