SHORT VERSION The MRI-guided linear accelerator is a radiation therapy device in which images are acquired by an embedded MRI, not a CT, scanner. Compared with CT, MRI provides higher definition images, particularly of soft tissue tumors, and allows the exact tumor delineation to deliver the right amount of radiation to the patient. Moreover, the anatomical changes of the tumor or nearby organs can be taken into account before each session and the tumor motion can be monitored during irradiation in real time.
The MRI-guided linear accelerator is a radiotherapy device that combines a linear accelerator and a MRI system to offer cancer treatment with an extremely high degree of precision. Thanks to its on-board MRI system, this device can take into account the anatomical changes of the tumor and nearby organs before each session and monitor the tumor during irradiation in real time. The device can be used for conformal radiotherapy with intensity modulation and for stereotactic radiotherapy. Currently, two systems are available: MRIdianⓇ from Viewray and UnityⓇ from Elekta. This system allows clinicians: The MRI-guided linear accelerator is particularly suitable for mobile tumors, such as pancreatic, liver, prostate or lung tumors. Finally, unlike other imaging devices, MRI provides images without delivering any additional radiation dose to the patient.
MRI-guided linear accelerator
General information on radiotherapy
The different types of radiotherapy
The different radiotherapy techniques
Innovations in radiotherapy
Before and during radiotherapy
After radiotherapy
Radiotherapy for breast cancer
Radiotherapy for prostate cancer
Radiotherapy and side effects
Radiosensitivity
FAQ