Philips has announced FDA clearance and CE mark for its Magnetic Resonance for Calculating ATtenuation (MRCAT) solution, which supports radiation departments that want to rely on MR as their primary imaging modality for prostate cancer treatment.

As part of the company’s Ingenia MR-RT platform for MR simulation, the new system allows physicians to adopt a single-modality imaging approach that provides high quality soft-tissue contrast for target delineation, as well as density information for dose calculations.

To produce the density information standard for CT, Philips has integrated imaging protocols onto their new device to obtain CT-like images on the MR console.
“Successful cancer treatment depends on the quality and accuracy of the radiation therapy plan, making imaging a critical piece in determining course of treatment,” said Dr. Rodney Ellis, vice chairman of radiation oncology at the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, in a statement.

“MR-only simulation makes MR more assessable for hospitals and physicians, transforming the way care is delivered and supporting our customers in improving care for oncology patients who require radiotherapy,” said Dr. Lizette Warner, manager of clinical science MR therapy, North America, Philips, in a statement.

An MR-only simulation allows clinicians to develop personalized treatment plans for each patient, Ellis added. It can also streamline workflow, which in turn reduces the burden on the patients and the health system, eliminating any errors introduced by MR-CT registration.

The machine is the first commercially available MR-only simulation solution for prostate cancer radiation oncology treatment planning in the United States.

Through collaborations with clinicians, Philips Radiation Oncology Systems (PROS), allows clinicians to move from analyzing a scan right to patient planning with the integration of Brilliance CT Big Bore and Pinnacle3.

Brilliance CT Big Bore is recognized as a treatment planning system that focuses on accuracy, patient positioning, imaging performance and a radiation therapy process that is patient-centered.

Pinnacle3 is a treatment planning system featuring enhanced efficiency and standardization that provides accuracy and reliability independent of the treatment delivery system.

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, reported the American Cancer Society. Approximately one in seven men, or 14 percent, will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.

Roughly one million U.S. patients diagnosed with prostate cancer undergo radiotherapy annually, and imaging plays a vital role, stated Philips. Current clinical practices often use both MR and CT images, but this can lead to image misalignment that could impact targeting and treatment.

MR-only simulation could also potentially reduce provider costs, as compared to MR-CT workflow.

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