First Measurement of Signal Changes Induced by Ionizing Radiation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

There is an increasing tendency towards the use of combined MR/PET scanners and combined MR-Linac (Linear accelerator) systems in both clinical and research settings. The current work therefore investigated the effects of ionising radiation on the acquired MR signal, both experimentally and using a simple theoretical model. We have observed a phase signal change in the radiated area inside a water phantom. However, the theoretical basis of this observation is not fully covered by the employed model and needs further research.