title: Conformal radiotherapy: what is it and why does it matter?
abstract: Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy is quickly becoming a standard radiation oncology practice at many academic and community-based departments. Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy allows clinicians to deliver safer and more accurate treatments to patients. It is also being used to increase tumor doses for situations in which traditional radiation techniques have been unsuccessful. Current and future clinical trials of dose-escalated three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy will examine its ultimate clinical effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0058, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cardinale
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome