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What does Mayo say about MRgRT (e.g. MRIdian)?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 20 12:52pm | Replies (11)Comment receiving replies
A previous RO told me that MRI has not been embraced because the treatment sessions can take too long. The radiation shuts off if the target goes out of the preselected area- due to peristalsis or a gas bubble. It only comes on when the target is back in range thereby minimizing marginal tissue damage. Some sessions can take over 45 mins as opposed to CAT based treatment which is much shorter.
Time is money. You can treat more patients in a day using Cyberknife vs Meridian and the insurance reimbursement is the same. More patients treated = more money.
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@heavyphil my experience with the Meridian was that I was in and out in about 20 minutes. There were 3 people operating the machine and monitoring the treatment, the RO, a physicist and a dosimitrist. This accounts for more labor cost but the Mirage randomized trial showed a significant difference in toxicity and side effect results between MRI guided and non mri guided radiation. So much so that there were quite a few institutions spending millions to buy both the MRIdian and now the Elekta.