title: Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) decreases treatment-related morbidity and potentially enhances tumor control.
abstract: Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), a new form of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), optimizes the concept of computer-controlled radiation deposition in tumor (target) while sparing adjacent normal structures. A retrospective review was done on the initial 185 patients with tumors in different sites including prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, pediatric tumors, adult brain tumors, and previously irradiated recurrent tumors treated with IMRT. Preliminary findings indicate that IMRT is a new clinically feasible tool in radiation oncology. Treatment-related morbidity profile was favorable. Tumor response, local control, and the ability to palliate previously irradiated patients are encouraging. Intensity modulated radiation therapy will allow dose escalation, leading to better tumor control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Section of Radiation Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Bin S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Teh
authors.forename: Wei-Yuan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Walter H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: J Kam
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Hsin H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: L Steven
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Shiao Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: E Brian
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal; D012189:Retrospective Studies