1. Incidental findings and safety events from magnetic resonance imaging simulation for head and neck radiation treatment planning: A single institution experience.
- Author
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Massachi, Jonathan, Singer, Lisa, Glastonbury, Christine, Singhrao, Kamal, Calvin, Christina, Yom, Sue, Chan, Jason, and Scholey, Jessica
- Subjects
Head and Neck Tumors ,Incidental Findings ,MRI ,MRI-Sim ,Radiation Therapy ,Safety ,Treatment Planning - Abstract
PURPOSE: Having dedicated MRI scanners within radiation oncology departments may present unexpected challenges since radiation oncologists and radiation therapists are generally not trained in this modality and there are potential patient safety concerns. This study retrospectively reviews the incidental findings and safety events that were observed at a single institution during introduction of MRI sim for head and neck radiotherapy planning. METHODS: Consecutive patients from March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2022, who were scheduled for MRI sim after having completed CT simulation for head and neck radiotherapy were included for analysis. Patients first underwent a CT simulation with a thermoplastic mask and in most cases with an intraoral stent. The same setup was then reproduced in the MRI simulator. Safety events were instances where scheduled MRI sims were not completed due to the MRI technologist identifying MRI-incompatible devices or objects at the time of sim. Incidental findings were identified during weekly quality assurance rounds as a joint enterprise of head and neck radiation oncology and neuroradiology. Categorical variables between completed and not completed MRI sims were compared using the Chi-Square test and continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test with a p-value of
- Published
- 2024