Philips Introduces First Commercial MR-only Solution for Prostate Cancer Treatment Planning in U.S.

Royal Philips

today introduced the first commercially available MR-only simulation solution indicated for prostate cancer radiation oncology treatment planning in the United States. Philips has achieved 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its MRCAT (Magnetic Resonance for Calculating ATtenuation) solution as part of its Ingenia MR-RT platform. This imaging approach supports radiation departments that want to rely on MRI as their primary imaging modality for prostate cancer treatment planning. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men, causing approximately 27,540 deaths annually1. Approximately one million U.S. patients2 undergo radiotherapy annually, and imaging plays a vital role. Current clinical practice often uses a combined approach using both MR and CT images, but this can lead to image misalignment and registration uncertainties that could impact targeting and treatment. It also puts pressure on patient burden, workflows and costs. MR-only simulation not only alleviates additional scans for the patient, but improves physician workflow and could potentially reduce provider costs, as compared to MR-CT workflow. "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. "The real power of MR-only simulation is that it enables us to develop personalized treatment plans. It can also streamline our workflows, which in turn reduces the burden on prostate cancer patients and the health system. Moreover, it can eliminate the systematic errors introduced by MR-CT registration." As part of its Ingenia MR-RT platform for MR simulation, Philips' new MRCAT solution allows physicians treating prostate cancer patients 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 fast and robust imaging protocols to obtain CT-like images on the MR console. Philips' MR-only simulation solution has also received CE mark and is available globally. "MR-only simulation is a continuation of Philips' commitment to driving image-guided therapy in the market. Where CT solutions have played a leading role in past radiotherapy treatments, MR takes an innovative approach by providing physicians with increased soft-tissue visualization and functional imaging capabilities to help improve treatment plans," said Lizette Warner, Ph.D., manager of clinical science MR therapy, North America, Philips. "MR-only simulation makes MR more accessible for hospitals and physicians, transforming the way care is delivered and supporting our customers in improving care for oncology patients who require radiotherapy."