title: [Conformal radiotherapy].
abstract: Conformal radiotherapy is a new irradiation technique made possible by technological improvements, especially progress in imaging and 3D dosimetry. By conforming the volume irradiated as closely as possible to the clinical anatomical target volume, conformal radiotherapy is designed to deliver a higher dose to the tumour volume, while more effectively sparing the adjacent tissues from the adverse effects of irradiation. Conformal radiotherapy may therefore constitute a progress comparable to the contribution of high-energy radiotherapy in the 1960s or the impact of computer-assisted dosimetry in the 1970s. Evaluation of the results, definition of its indications, standardisation of practices, and study of the impact of dose escalation require further studies in the field of prostate cancer, as the superiority of this new technique over conventional radiotherapy has not been formally established due to the limited follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Urologie, CHU Nancy-Brabois, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hubert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Beckendorf
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
vernacular_title: Radiothérapie conformationnelle.