Real-time motion management in MRI-guided radiotherapy: Current status and AI-enabled prospects

Radiother Oncol. 2024 Jan:190:109970. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.109970. Epub 2023 Oct 26.

Abstract

MRI-guided radiotherapy (MRIgRT) is a highly complex treatment modality, allowing adaptation to anatomical changes occurring from one treatment day to the other (inter-fractional), but also to motion occurring during a treatment fraction (intra-fractional). In this vision paper, we describe the different steps of intra-fractional motion management during MRIgRT, from imaging to beam adaptation, and the solutions currently available both clinically and at a research level. Furthermore, considering the latest developments in the literature, a workflow is foreseen in which motion-induced over- and/or under-dosage is compensated in 3D, with minimal impact to the radiotherapy treatment time. Considering the time constraints of real-time adaptation, a particular focus is put on artificial intelligence (AI) solutions as a fast and accurate alternative to conventional algorithms.

Keywords: AI; Intra-fractional motion; MRI-linac; Motion estimation; Motion prediction; Tumour tracking.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Intelligence*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Motion
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Radiotherapy, Image-Guided* / methods