CT scans are obtained with the patient immobilized in the treatment position. Other imaging information from MRI scans or PET scans may be fused to the CT image. This information is analyzed by a sophisticated computer to precisely map the location of a cancer and its predicted areas of spread. Normal tissue organs at risk are also map. Nonuniform radiation beams are then aimed from several directions at the areas that need it, while trying to reduce the exposure of organs at risk.
A newer form of radiotherapy, enabling more precise external beam radiotherapy treatment. Instead of having a single, large radiation beam pass through the body, IMRT breaks it up into thousands of thin beams, improving accuracy and minimizing harm to surrounding tissue.
the intensity of the radiation beam can be changed during treatment to spare adjoining normal tissue and increase the dose to the tumor.
A form of 3D therapy in which the machine delivering the radiation dose actually moves around the patient, permitting radiation of varying intensity to be beamed from several directions.
A technique used to treat cancer. The patient is immobilized with a plastic net-like mask to assure no movement. The IMRT machine delivers 100-200 doses of radiation over 15 minutes. The machine moves to a certain position and deliver 15-30 shaped fields. It then moves to another position. These fields are shaped automatically in the treatment head of the machine; therefore, the cancer and lymph nodes are "painted" with dose.
IMRT is a specialized form of external beam therapy that allows radiation to be shaped to fit your tumor.
(IMRT): a form of external beam radiation therapy that uses computed tomography to create a 3-D picture of the prostate and surrounding organs so radiation rays can be delivered only to the prostate gland. IMRT precisely delivers many thin radiation beams to the prostate gland. It allows for a high dose of radiation to be administered to the prostate while minimizing effects on nearby organs.
A type of radiation treatment that in some cases spares normal tissues such as the salivary glands.
A type of 3-dimensional radiation therapy that uses computer-generated images to show the size and shape of the tumor. Thin beams of radiation of different intensities are aimed at the tumor from many angles. This type of radiation therapy reduces the damage to healthy tissue near the tumor.
Computer controlled treatment that allows a radiation dose to be designed and delivered that spare critical organs and tissue, while giving high doses to tumors.
(IMRT) Radiation therapy that delivers radiation more accurately and effectively to tumors by conforming radiation beam shape and changing dose intensity during treatment to spare surrounding tissue and minimize side effects. See also IMRT.
A type of conformal radiation therapy which produces highly uniform dose distributions within target volumes , and distinct dose gradient at the edges of target volumes. In an IMRT treatment, each radiation field is divided into finite size pencil beams of differing intensities.
The most recent state-of-the-art, computer-aided technique for delivering higher doses of radiation more accurately than either conventional External Beam Radiation of Conformal Radiation.
an advanced method of conformal radiation therapy in which the beams are aimed from several directions and the intensity (strength) of the beams is controlled by computers. This allows more radiation to reach the treatment area while reducing the radiation to healthy tissues. (See also conformal radiation therapy.)