MR-simulation in Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer

Conventional radiotherapy treatment planning uses computed tomography (CT) scans to provide an accurate 3-D picture of the local anatomy. This helps the planners to maximise the radiation dose delivered to the prostate, whilst minimising the dose to surrounding normal tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning is an established diagnostic imaging technique that provides even clearer images of the local anatomy. However, until recently the technology hasn't existed to allow us to perform MRI scans with patients "set-up" in the position required to plan and deliver radiotherapy to the prostate. This study is being performed to assess methods that may allow us to incorporate MRI scans into the radiotherapy planning process, which may further increase the accuracy of the treatment, reducing the irradiation of surrounding normal tissue and minimising toxicity.