Technical feasibility of integrating 7 T anatomical MRI in image-guided radiotherapy of glioblastoma: a preparatory study

Inge Compter*, Jurgen Peerlings, Daniëlle B P Eekers, Alida A Postma, Dimo Ivanov, Christopher J Wiggins, Pieter Kubben, Benno Küsters, Pieter Wesseling, Linda Ackermans, Olaf Schijns, Philippe Lambin, Aswin L Hoffmann

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The use of 7 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has recently shown great potential for high-resolution soft-tissue neuroimaging and visualization of microvascularization in glioblastoma (GBM). We have designed a clinical trial to explore the value of 7 T MRI in radiation treatment of GBM. For this aim we performed a preparatory study to investigate the technical feasibility of incorporating 7 T MR images into the neurosurgical navigation and radiotherapy treatment planning (RTP) systems via qualitative and quantitative assessment of the image quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MR images were acquired with a Siemens Magnetom 7 T whole-body scanner and a Nova Medical 32-channel head coil. The 7 T MRI pulse sequences included magnetization-prepared two rapid acquisition gradient echoes (MP2RAGE), T2-SPACE, SPACE-FLAIR and gradient echo sequences (GRE). A pilot study with three healthy volunteers and an anthropomorphic 3D phantom was used to assess image quality and geometrical image accuracy.

RESULTS: The MRI scans were well tolerated by the volunteers. Susceptibility artefacts were observed in both the cortex and subcortical white matter at close proximity to air-tissue interfaces. Regional loss of signal and contrast could be minimized by the use of dielectric pads. Image transfer and processing did not degrade image quality. The system-related spatial uncertainty of geometrical distortion-corrected MP2RAGE pulse sequences was ≤2 mm.

CONCLUSION: Integration of high-quality and geometrically-reliable 7 T MR images into neurosurgical navigation and RTP software is technically feasible and safe.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)591–603
Number of pages13
JournalMagnetic Resonance Materials in Physics Biology and Medicine
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2016

Keywords

  • Ultra-high field MRI
  • Radiotherapy
  • Treatment planning
  • Glioblastoma
  • Geometrical distortion
  • GEOMETRIC DISTORTION
  • ULTRAHIGH-FIELD
  • TESLA
  • CONTRAST
  • MICROVASCULARITY
  • VISUALIZATION
  • NEUROSURGERY
  • INVERSION
  • STRENGTH
  • GLIOMAS

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