Magnetic Resonance-Guided Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers

• Published in: Current oncology (Toronto) 2022-10, Vol.29 (11), p.8302-8315
• Main Authors: Lavigne, Danny, Ng, Sweet Ping, O'Sullivan, Brian, Nguyen-Tan, Phuc Felix, Filion, Edith, Létourneau-Guillon, Laurent, Fuller, Clifton D, Bahig, Houda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; Care and treatment; head and neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Humans; magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; magnetic resonance-guided radiation therapy; MR-Linac; Radiation; radiation therapy; Radiotherapy; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted - methods; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided - methods; Review
• ISSN: 1718-7729; 1198-0052; 1718-7729
• DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29110655

Despite the significant evolution of radiation therapy (RT) techniques in recent years, many patients with head and neck cancer still experience significant toxicities during and after treatments. The increased soft tissue contrast and functional sequences of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are particularly attractive in head and neck cancer and have led to the increasing development of magnetic resonance-guided RT (MRgRT). This approach refers to the inclusion of the additional information acquired from a diagnostic or planning MRI in radiation treatment planning, and now extends to online high-quality daily imaging generated by the recently developed MR-Linac. MRgRT holds numerous potentials, including enhanced baseline and planning evaluations, anatomical and functional treatment adaptation, potential for hypofractionation, and multiparametric assessment of response. This article offers a structured review of the current literature on these established and upcoming roles of MRI for patients with head and neck cancer undergoing RT.