IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy)
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an advanced mode of high-precision radiotherapy that utilizes computer controlled X-ray accelerators to deliver precise radiation doses to a malignant tumor or specific areas within the tumor. In simple words, IMRT allows us to conform the dose of radiation more closely to the target.
Because tumors are three-dimensional, it’s important to conform the radiation dose to the shape of the tumor. IMRT enables our team to do this by modulating or controlling the intensity of the radiation beam.
IMRT also allows higher radiation doses to be focused to regions within the tumor while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues.
A few facts about CARTI & IMRT:
• IMRT maximizes the capabilities of radiation therapy while minimizing its effects on healthy tissue and organs.
• IMRT minimizes the side effects of radiation treatment.
• IMRT is used most extensively to treat cancers of the prostate, head and neck, and central nervous system. It also has been used in limited situations to treat breast, thyroid, lung, as well as in gastrointestinal, gynecologic malignancies and certain types of sarcomas. IMRT may also be beneficial for treating pediatric malignancies.
• IMRT often requires multiple or fractionated treatment sessions. Typically, patients are scheduled for IMRT sessions five days a week for five to ten weeks.
