Radiologist and researcher Derya Yakar of the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG) will receive a 1.9 million euro grant for research on shortening the duration of MRI scans when prostate cancer is suspected. Yakar leads the FastMRI project. Using artificial intelligence, the project aims to reduce the duration from 40 to 15 minutes. Important, as new guidelines require many more scans.
Dutch and European guidelines have recently prescribed an MRI scan first when prostate cancer is suspected. This scan immediately shows whether prostate cancer is present and whether treatment is needed. Combined with an ageing population, this updated guideline is expected to lead to a sharp increase in demand for MRI scans. Not only does this threaten a shortage of available MRI scans. It also threatens a sharp increase in healthcare costs.
Reduce scan time
One solution may be to reduce scan time without compromising on image quality. The FastMRI project is conducting research into reducing scan time. It is now around 40 minutes. The deployment of AI should reduce this to 15 minutes.
The FastMRI project is a collaboration between the UMCG, Radboudumc, University of Twente and Siemens Healthineers. The project has a duration of 48 months. FastMRI should lead to innovative AI methods for accelerating the acquisition of prostate MRIs for prostate cancer diagnosis and during MRI-guided prostate cancer treatment.
Insider information
Yakar is working on an algorithm that gives the MRI scanner 'precognition'. Using this precognition, the scanner can complete a scan faster, without sacrificing quality. The method can be used for detecting prostate cancer, as well as for acting on it.
In this case, the patient is treated in the MRI scanner by ablation or freezing. The scanner shows the result immediately during the procedure. This is also called 'real time image guided intervention', something the Radboudumc is researching. Researchers at the University of Twente are focusing on integrating the algorithm into new MRI scanners.
Reduce scan time for other organs
The project will initially focus on prostate cancer. In time, the participating parties also see possibilities for reducing the scan time of other organs.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
