Use of MRI and HIFU to guide radiation therapy

University of Chicago
posted on 06/04/2009

Marking of tumors with High Frequency Ultrasound (HiFU) burning to facilitate tracking of tumors with MRI.

Suggested Uses

Combination with MRI for diagnostic imaging of tumors, and potentially for therapeutic applications.

Advantages

Increased accuracy of MRI scans for tumorous tissues. Potential combination of diagnostic imaging with the therapeutic application of HiFU.

Innovation Details

Detailed Description

This technology improves the tracking of tumors during radiation therapy by marking the tumor with MRI guided HiFU (High Frequency Ultrasound) burning. Often, CT scans are combined with radiation therapy in an attempt to treat the correct regions and limit dose to healthy tissue. However, CT does not distinguish well between different soft tissues (especially CT scans on-board radiation therapy machines). However, MRI can distinguish cancerous and healthy tissue more clearly and the MRI scan can be combined with HiFU, which is being considered as a possible adjunct for cancer treatment. Currently surrogate markers may be used for locating the tumor, but these HiFU burn marks would be more direct markers of tumor location.

File Number: 1527

Disease: Cancer

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