MR-Linac (MRI-Guided Radiotherapy)
radiation-oncology
MR-Linac (MRI-Guided Radiotherapy) is available at 10 hospitals across 5 cities in the Voumed network.
10 hospitals operate this technology across 4 countries through the Voumed network; 6 of them hold JCI accreditation.
MR-Linac combines a radiotherapy machine with an MRI scanner in a single device, so the radiation oncology team can watch the tumour and the soft tissue around it in real time while treatment is being delivered. Standard radiotherapy relies on planning scans taken on earlier days, but tumours and organs shift slightly from session to session and even with breathing. By seeing the target live, MR-Linac lets the team adapt the plan each day and pause or steer the beam as the tumour moves, delivering a precise dose where it is needed while better protecting healthy tissue.
Key takeaways
- MR-Linac is a hybrid machine in which an MRI scanner is built around the linear accelerator, so the team sees soft tissue while the beam is running and gains that view without any extra radiation.
- It suits cancers that shift with each breath or sit beside delicate structures, including prostate, liver, lung, pancreas and several abdominal and pelvic sites, and a radiation oncologist decides after studying the imaging.
- Live pictures taken before the appointment allow a fresh plan to be built on the spot when anatomy has moved, and during treatment the beam pauses by itself once the target drifts past a set boundary, restarting when it returns.
- You lie still inside an enclosed, noisy bore much as in a routine scan, wear ear protection, feel nothing from the radiation and go home the same day, since there is neither surgery nor anaesthesia.
- The trade-off is a longer appointment than conventional radiotherapy because imaging and same-day planning take time, a strong magnetic field means implants and metal devices are screened first, and nothing radioactive stays in the body afterwards.
On this page
At a glance
- Type
- MRI-guided linear accelerator (external radiotherapy with live imaging)
- Used for
- tumours that move or sit near sensitive organs, such as pancreas, liver, prostate and lung
- Key benefit
- real-time MRI lets the dose follow the tumour and adapt day by day
- Session
- non-invasive and painless, though each session is longer than standard radiotherapy
- Where it is used
- leading accredited radiotherapy centres abroad
What it is
MR-Linac is a hybrid system that builds an MRI scanner directly around a linear accelerator, the machine that produces the treatment beam. MRI gives an exceptionally clear view of soft tissue, far better than the x-ray imaging used in conventional radiotherapy, and crucially it does so continuously while the beam is on, without adding any extra radiation. This means the team is no longer treating from a picture taken days earlier; they can see exactly where the tumour and the surrounding organs are at that moment and respond. The approach is often called adaptive radiotherapy, because the plan can be refreshed to match the body as it is on the day.
How it works
Before each session, the live MRI shows the team the tumour's current size, shape and position. If anything has shifted since the original plan, a new plan can be created on the spot so the dose still fits the target precisely. During treatment the MRI keeps watching; if the tumour drifts outside a set boundary, for example as you breathe, the beam automatically pauses and resumes only when the target moves back into place. You lie still inside the machine, much as you would for an ordinary MRI, and feel nothing from the radiation itself. Sessions take longer than standard radiotherapy because of this extra imaging and on-the-day planning.
What it treats and who it helps
MR-Linac is especially suited to tumours that are hard to target because they move with breathing or sit close to delicate organs, such as cancers of the pancreas, liver, prostate, lung, and certain abdominal and pelvic sites. Its live soft-tissue view and adaptive planning allow higher, more focused doses in these situations while keeping nearby healthy organs better protected, which in some cases means a course can be given in fewer, more powerful sessions. Whether this technique fits a particular case always depends on the diagnosis and tumour location; a radiation oncologist decides after reviewing your imaging.
Benefits and what to expect
The main advantages are precision and adaptability: treating from a live image rather than an older scan, adjusting the plan to your anatomy each day, and gating the beam to motion all help concentrate the dose on the tumour while sparing healthy tissue, which can reduce side effects. Because the dose is so focused, some treatments can be completed in a shorter overall course. Treatment is non-invasive and given on an outpatient basis, with no surgery and no anaesthesia. The trade-off is that individual sessions last longer than conventional radiotherapy; your care team explains the schedule and supports you throughout.
Frequently asked questions
These answers are general guidance and may vary by provider. Confirm the details with the hospital you choose.
Does the MRI part make treatment uncomfortable?
It is similar to having a routine MRI scan. The space is enclosed and the machine is noisy, so you wear ear protection, but the treatment itself is painless and you simply lie still.
Why does each session take longer?
The extra time goes into the live MRI imaging and, when needed, creating a fresh plan on the day so the dose precisely matches your anatomy at that moment. That added care is what makes the treatment so adaptive and accurate.
Will I be radioactive afterward?
No. Like other external radiotherapy, MR-Linac leaves nothing inside your body, so you are not radioactive and it is safe to be around others, including children, after a session.
Can anyone have MR-Linac?
Not everyone. Because it uses a strong magnetic field, people with certain implants or metal devices may not be suitable, and the team screens carefully beforehand. A radiation oncologist confirms whether it fits your diagnosis and situation.
How is it different from standard radiotherapy?
Standard machines guide treatment with x-ray imaging and a plan made on an earlier day. MR-Linac adds live MRI, so the team can see soft tissue clearly during treatment and adapt the plan and beam to where the tumour is right now.
Does it reduce side effects?
By focusing the dose more tightly on the tumour and steering it away from healthy organs, the aim is to limit side effects. Your exact experience depends on the area treated, and your team monitors you throughout the course.
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