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Topics:
Radiation Oncology • Palliation
Do you routinely obtain a spine MRI for all patients planned for palliative spine RT?
Do you routinely obtain a spine MRI prior to treatment for all cases, even for non-SBRT candidates (e.g., 30 Gy in 10 fractions) or do you ever rely solely on other forms of imaging, such as PET/CT, without an MRI spine to guide treatment?
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
If the treatment plan involves conventional EBRT for palliation of painful spine metastasis, reasonably identified on other imaging and correlating with the patient's location and nature of pain, I believe an MRI may not be necessary. However, if there are symptoms indicative of epidural spread or n...
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Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
I regularly administer palliative (non-SBRT) radiotherapy without performing an MRI spine or PET/CT scan.
If there's no concern for canal involvement based on clinical symptoms and diagnostic CT, additional tests are unlikely to alter management. Routinely including them can be demanding for patien...
Comments
Radiation Oncologist at LJA
I never proceed without an MRI. MRI scans frequent...
I never proceed without an MRI. MRI scans frequent...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
If you've got a solitary lesion and you're trying to decide between treating with SBRT or giving 400 cGy x 5 or something, it would be reasonable to order an MRI beforehand, as depending on what it showed, you might change your management.
OTOH, why order an MRI on someone with widespread lytic met...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
Yes.