Can I still do Cyberknife or Proton Beam therapies without MRI?

Posted by larrypt3b @larrypt3b, Jan 27 1:56pm

In 2023 I walked into my Doctors office and was "shanghi'd" to the cardiac wing for a triple by-pass. After that procedure, the last thing they were to do was remove the wires they used to restart my heart. The nurse came in, pulled the wire, then (to my surprise) cut it and pushed the remnant back inside! I'm told this is not uncommon...?
They informed me that although the wire has never been tested for use with MRI, they wouldn't recommend it (but if I did, they'd be interested in what happened).
So no pre-RARP MRI and now no SRT MRI. Can I still do Cyberknife or Proton Beam therapies without MRI? If not, what options seem best?

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jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | Jan 27 3:32pm

MRI’s before RARP or SRT have become more routine, but we’re not always done. I didn’t have one before either of those procedures. You should ask the doctor if it’s required.

jc76 | @jc76 | Jan 27 5:10pm

@larrypt3b
I had a MRI/contrast done at Mayo Jacksonville with having a ICD/Pacemaker. My device has 4 wires. My pacemaker was MRI compliant but some of my wires were not.

I have no idea of what type wires they used on you but they may be MRI compliant as the new ones are.

What they did at Mayo was to use a special MRI on me and turn off my shock temporarily as magnetic can really cause issues with older devices that are not the new MRI compliant.

But I have 4 wires in my heart (one is not attached to heart) and was non compliant to MRI.

brianjarvis | @brianjarvis | Jan 28 4:53am

Well before the availability of the 3T MRI, they used lower power 1.5T MRIs along with an endorectal coil to enhance the prostate image. (Sounds pleasant, doesn’t it?) They can still use that method if there are artifacts in the upper torso/head. It’s worth inquiring about.