MRI Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about MRI, including details on magnetic resonance imaging, neuroimaging, brain tumors.

Repeatability of functional MRI for conformal avoidance radiotherapy planning.

Garcia-Alvarez R, Liney GP, Beavis AW

Centre for MR Investigations, University of Hull, Hull, UK.

PURPOSE: To establish the repeatability of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) examinations in order to develop an appropriate margin for functional organs at risk (fOAR) in the radiotherapy planning process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This work investigates the variability of motor cortex activation in the left and right hemispheres of 15 normal subjects. The uncertainty of the absolute position and volume of the activation was determined for each volunteer by repeating the fMRI examination three times in a single scan session. RESULTS: Our study proposes the use of 2.9 mm and 2.2 mm margins for the left and right motor cortices, respectively. CONCLUSION: From the sample of 15 volunteers we established an appropriate planning margin that is considered to represent the uncertainty in spatially measuring the fOAR for a single fMRI examination. The work will be of interest to anyone investigating the clinical robustness of fMRI.

Published 1 February 2006 in J Magn Reson Imaging, 23(2): 108-14.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 MRI Research Today. All Rights Reserved.