Advanced MRI Sequences for Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning

Investigation on the Utility of Advanced MRI Imaging Methods for Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning

The purpose of this study is to determine if it would be helpful to use advanced MRI imaging techniques to take additional views of the tumor target for radiation treatment planning or treatment follow-up MRI.

The results of this research project will be used to establish a standard MRI protocol specific to each tumor or disease site. An MRI protocol is a list of MR image types that are acquired for each disease site. These images are used to generate the patient's treatment plan.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 18 years older of any race or gender with anal canal, brain, breast, cervix, esophagus, gynecology, head and neck, lung, pancreas, primary liver or liver metastases, prostate cancer or sarcoma either undergoing MRI scan for radiation treatment planning or a post treatment MRI
• Voluntarily signs an IRB approved consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to obtain informed consent from the patient or their medical power of attorney
• Patients who are not undergoing MR for radiation treatment planning
• Patients who will not have MRI scans after treatment
• Patients with pacemakers or other non-MRI compatible metallic implants
• Pregnant women, by self report using a standard MRI questionnaire
• Patients who will not receive contrast agent as part of their standard MR, will participate only in the non-contrast portion of the study