Intensity-modulated radiation therapy: emerging cancer treatment technology.
The use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is rapidly advancing in the field of radiation oncology. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy allows for improved dose conformality, thereby affording the potential to decrease the spectrum of normal tissue toxicities associated with IMRT. Preliminary results with IMRT are quite promising; however, the clinical data is relatively immature and overall patient numbers remain small. High-quality IMRT requires intensive physics support and detailed knowledge of three-dimensional anatomy and patterns of tumour spread. This review focuses on basic principles, and highlights the clinical implementation of IMRT in head and neck and prostate cancer.
Hong
T S
TS
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
Ritter
M A
MA
Tomé
W A
WA
Harari
P M
PM
D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011786:Quality Control; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards