Viscous Aqueous Gel Illustrating Natural Anatomy: The VAGINA method in gynaecological MRI simulation

Autor: Kate Skehan, Matthew Richardson, Laura M O'Connor, Samuel Dickson, Kate Martin, Geetha Govindarajulu, Swetha Sridharan
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, Vol 71, Iss 1, Pp 150-155 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2051-3909
2051-3895
DOI: 10.1002/jmrs.716
Popis: Abstract Accurately defining gross tumour volume (GTV) and organs at risk (OAR) is key to successful radiation therapy (RT) treatment outcomes for patients with gynaecological cancers. With improved access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for RT simulation and planning, the optimisation and tailoring of proven diagnostic MRI techniques towards RT specific planning goals is fast evolving. Modifying MRI techniques for radiation oncology (RO) with the priority of anatomy visualisation and spatial location over diagnosis and disease characterisation relies heavily on successful collaboration between radiology and radiation oncology staff. This ‘How I Do It’ paper describes a qualitative analysis of the adaptation of a diagnostic MRI vaginal opacification technique into an RT specific MRI simulation procedure using aqueous ultrasound gel for improving natural anatomical visualisation of the vaginal canal. This technique is explained and could be introduced in other RO departments for dedicated RT planning scans in MR‐Sim sessions with minimal difficulty. We found 10‐15 cc of aqueous gel delivered vaginally produced optimal MRI planning images for most patients. With this small amount of gel and careful application technique, the full extent of the vaginal vault and cervix can be well visualised on T2 Weighted (T2W) imaging, while tending not to unfold the natural fornices of the collapsed vagina, representing a significant improvement in image quality from the outdated tampon procedure.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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