Viscous Aqueous Gel Illustrating Natural Anatomy: The VAGINA method in gynaecological MRI simulation
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 tailo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.716 |
| _version_ | 1797268914081628160 |
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| author | Kate Skehan Matthew Richardson Laura M O'Connor Samuel Dickson Kate Martin Geetha Govindarajulu Swetha Sridharan |
| author_facet | Kate Skehan Matthew Richardson Laura M O'Connor Samuel Dickson Kate Martin Geetha Govindarajulu Swetha Sridharan |
| author_sort | Kate Skehan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:40:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7636384e885f418281f99edc0bcd4aaf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-3895 2051-3909 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:40:03Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-7636384e885f418281f99edc0bcd4aaf2024-03-08T05:32:44ZengWileyJournal of Medical Radiation Sciences2051-38952051-39092024-03-0171115015510.1002/jmrs.716Viscous Aqueous Gel Illustrating Natural Anatomy: The VAGINA method in gynaecological MRI simulationKate Skehan0Matthew Richardson1Laura M O'Connor2Samuel Dickson3Kate Martin4Geetha Govindarajulu5Swetha Sridharan6Radiation Oncology Department Calvary Mater Hospital Newcastle New South Wales AustraliaRadiation Oncology Department Calvary Mater Hospital Newcastle New South Wales AustraliaRadiation Oncology Department Calvary Mater Hospital Newcastle New South Wales AustraliaRadiation Oncology Department Calvary Mater Hospital Newcastle New South Wales AustraliaRadiation Oncology Department Calvary Mater Hospital Newcastle New South Wales AustraliaRadiation Oncology Department Calvary Mater Hospital Newcastle New South Wales AustraliaRadiation Oncology Department Calvary Mater Hospital Newcastle New South Wales AustraliaAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.716GynaecologicalMRIradiation therapysimulationvagina |
| spellingShingle | Kate Skehan Matthew Richardson Laura M O'Connor Samuel Dickson Kate Martin Geetha Govindarajulu Swetha Sridharan Viscous Aqueous Gel Illustrating Natural Anatomy: The VAGINA method in gynaecological MRI simulation Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences Gynaecological MRI radiation therapy simulation vagina |
| title | Viscous Aqueous Gel Illustrating Natural Anatomy: The VAGINA method in gynaecological MRI simulation |
| title_full | Viscous Aqueous Gel Illustrating Natural Anatomy: The VAGINA method in gynaecological MRI simulation |
| title_fullStr | Viscous Aqueous Gel Illustrating Natural Anatomy: The VAGINA method in gynaecological MRI simulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Viscous Aqueous Gel Illustrating Natural Anatomy: The VAGINA method in gynaecological MRI simulation |
| title_short | Viscous Aqueous Gel Illustrating Natural Anatomy: The VAGINA method in gynaecological MRI simulation |
| title_sort | viscous aqueous gel illustrating natural anatomy the vagina method in gynaecological mri simulation |
| topic | Gynaecological MRI radiation therapy simulation vagina |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.716 |
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