Method for MR-Guided Brachytherapy with Consistent Patient Positioning

A method for guiding brachytherapy radiation treatment of a lesion of a patient comprising:

• supporting the patient on a treatment support table;
• while the patient is supported on the support table, preparing the patient for radiation therapy on the treatment support table and moving an applicator for applying the brachytherapy radiation treatment to a treatment position at the patient;
• providing an after-loader for supplying a radiation source to the applicator in a storage location having a storage door;
• with the applicator located at the treatment position, moving the after-loader from the storage location to the applicator;
• locating the treatment support table and the after-loader forming a radiation therapy treatment system in a treatment room;
• providing an MRI system for imaging the patient including a cylindrical magnet;
• moving the after-loader in the treatment room to the storage location spaced from the treatment support table;
• providing an opening from an exterior magnet storage room into the treatment room with a magnet door on the opening;
• with the after-loader moved to the storage location, moving the cylindrical magnet of the MRI system from the exterior magnet storage room outside the treatment room through the opening with the magnet door open into a position surrounding the treatment support table for obtaining images of the patient while on the treatment support table;
• while the patient is on the treatment support table, using the MRI system to obtain a series of images of a location of the lesion and the applicator at the treatment position within the patient;
• moving the magnet of the MRI system away from the treatment support table and out of the treatment room through the opening, and closing the magnet door so as to allow the radiation therapy;
• providing a safety system to control movement of the after-loader and the magnet;
• and using the images of the patient to locate the applicator with respect to the patient.