title: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy: emerging cancer treatment technology.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Tomé
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Harari
mesh_terms: 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