IGRT
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Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
Image Guided Radiation Therapy or IGRT, helps to improve the delivery of radiation. With the intention to deliver the best, MGCH & RI uses Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), one of the most cutting-edge innovations in cancer technology available.
The linear accelerator is an integrated imaging and workflow solution that offers a comprehensive portfolio of image-guided and advanced treatment delivery protocols, including in-room CT imaging capabilities. IGRT involves conformal radiation treatment guided by a CT scan taken in the treatment room just before the patient is given the radiation treatment.
Tumors can move, because of breathing and other movements in the body. IGRT allows our doctors to locate and track the tumor at the time of treatment. With this technology, we can deliver precise radiation treatment to tumors that shift as a result of breathing and movement of the bladder and bowels.
This also allows our radiation oncologists to make technical adjustments when a tumor moves outside of the planned treatment range. As a result, the radiation treatment is targeted to the tumor as much as possible, helping to limit radiation exposure to healthy tissue and reduce common radiation side effects.
Imaging in the treatment room during the course of radiation is referred to as Image guided radiation therapy.
- Improved levels of dose conformity achieved with specialized techniques (e.g., IMRT/VMAT/SRS/SBRT) increase the chance of a tumor being missed during treatment. This can be improved by imaging at the time of treatment.
- 2-Dimensional imaging can be done by taking orthogonal X –rays using Electronic Portal Imaging Device (EPID)
- 3-Dimensional imaging can be done using Cone Beam CT (CBCT) which helps to position the patient more accurately.
- 4-Dimensional imaging is made available, for the first time in the state of Andhra Pradesh, at our centre which uses specialized software called Symmetry which can detect intra-fraction movement of tumors (especially in lung neoplasms). This helps to generate internal target volume (ITV), which helps to reduce unnecessary treatment of normal structures.
