Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Treatment Planning

Computed tomography (CT) has made a dramatic impact on the accuracy of radiotherapy

treatment planning in the past two decades by improving the localisation of target volumes.

Improved target localisation will allow higher local control rates with less geographical misses

and permit better awareness of the surrounding critical organs, thereby potentially minimising

normal tissue complications (Goitein 1979; Goitein et al. 1979). The development of magnetic

resonance (MR) has introduced several added imaging benefits that may confer an advantage

over the use of CT in treatment planning.