The Islands Healthcare Complex – Macao Medical Centre of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), aka Macao Union Medical Centre, said in a statement yesterday that it has introduced Macau’s first 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) simulation positioning system*, completing the city’s first MRI-guided radiotherapy simulation procedure and enhancing precision in cancer treatment planning.
According to the statement, the new system was recently used in Macau’s first MRI simulation positioning case involving an elderly patient diagnosed with meningioma** who had previously undergone multiple surgeries and radiotherapy treatments.
Medical staff used the system to perform a highly precise radiotherapy simulation after new intracranial metastatic lesions were identified, the statement said, noting that the technology enabled more accurate visualisation of the affected areas, laying the groundwork for subsequent radiation treatment.
The 3T MRI simulation positioning system is specifically designed for radiotherapy planning, the statement noted, adding that the equipment addresses limitations associated with computed tomography (CT) imaging, particularly in soft tissue differentiation and tumour boundary definition.
By combining MRI simulation positioning with dual-modality spectral CT imaging, clinicians can achieve more accurate target localisation, clearer tumour contouring, more precise dose planning and reduced treatment errors, the statement said.
The system is expected to significantly improve the identification of tumours and metastatic lesions in areas including the brain, head and neck, abdomen, pelvis and spine, the statement pointed out, underlining that the enhanced imaging capability can improve treatment effectiveness while minimising radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue, reducing complications and side effects, and improving patients’ quality of life.
The statement noted that it has established what it described as Macau’s largest standalone tumour radiotherapy centre, equipped with advanced technology that meets international standards and provides services covering a broad range of cancer types.
With the commissioning of Macau’s first 3T MRI simulation positioning system, the Macao Union Medical Centre said in the statement that it expects to further strengthen cancer treatment services in the city through more precise radiotherapy planning and improved patient care.
*A 3T MRI simulation positioning system is an integrated hardware and software setup designed to replicate exact, reproducible patient positions for radiation therapy planning. It pairs MRI-safe immobilisation equipment (like indexed vacuum cushions, thermoplastic masks, and flat-top couches) with external laser systems to perfectly align the patient’s anatomy for treatment. - Gemini
**A meningioma is the most common type of primary brain tumour. It originates in the meninges, which are the protective membrane layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord. - Gemini
This undated handout photo provided by the Macao Union Medical Centre yesterday shows an elderly patient being tested by the first 3T MRI simulation positioning system at the public hospital in Cotai.
