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State-of-the-Art Technology IGRTAt the The Northern Ohio Regional Cancer Center, we want you to have the peace of mind that you will be treated by the most caring, sophisticated and technologically advanced team in the valley. That is why we have implemented IGRT (image guided radiotherapy), which is only available in a few select centers of excellence in Ohio.
IGRT is the most precise form of external beam radiation therapy available. With standard IMRT (intensity modulated radiotherapy), the radiation is broken up into tiny pencil-thin radiation beams or "modulated" by a sophisticated computer system. These beams enter the body from many angles and go directly to the cancer with pinpoint accuracy. However, difficulty arises when trying to administer the radiation, since cancer tumors are constantly moving within the body (for example, from movement caused by breathing).Hence, the exact location of the tumor may have changed between the time of scan and actual treatment. IGRT combines a new form of scanning technology, which enables physicians to adjust the radiation beam based on the position of the tumor and critical organs, while the patient is in the treatment position.
Using this method, the cancer is treated, but the surrounding healthy tissue is shielded from much of the radiation, which helps avoid unwanted side effects. In this fashion, IGRT allows us to safely treat tumors that are located very close to delicate organs. For patients with prostate cancer, less radiation is given to the rectum, bladder and sexual organs. Simply put, this means that radiation can be more precisely targeted to the cancer with a lower rate of side effects, fewer complications and improved cancer control rates.
How important is a medical advance like IGRT for your cancer care? We think it makes all the difference.
If you would like more information on IGRT from the manufacturer of our equipment, please visit www.elekta.com.
Clinical articles available for download: IGRT for Localized Prostate Cancer
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