Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) - illustration of the technique, indications and advantages

Authors

  • Maria Adelina Costa Assistente Hospitalar Graduada de Radioterapia - Mestre em Oncologia. Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto
  • Paulo Serafim Assistente Hospitalar de Radioterapia. Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto
  • Joana Vale Física Médica Estagiária. Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto
  • Paula Genésio Técnica de Radioterapia de Primeira Classe. Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto
  • Graça Fonseca Assistente Hospitalar de Radioterapia. Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto
  • Ricardo Guedes Técnico de Radioterapia de Segunda Classe. Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto
  • Fernanda Ponte Física Médica. Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto
  • Cármen Calçada Assistente Hospitalar Graduada de Radioterapia. Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto
  • Nathalie Stas Assistente Hospitalar Graduada de Radioterapia. Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto
  • Júlio Teixeira Assistente Hospitalar de Radioterapia - Director Clínico da Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.236

Keywords:

Intensity modulated radiation therapy, advantages

Abstract

IMRT is a state-of-the-art cancer treatment method that delivers high doses of radiation directly to cancer cells in a very targeted way, much more precisely than is possible with conventional radiotherapy. IMRT can deliver higher radiation doses directly to cancer cells while sparing more of the surrounding healthy tissue. This has important advantages in head and neck cancers as it allows the beams to hit their target area while missing the surrounding structures, minimizing acute and late side effects.

The purpose of this article is to describe the IMRT technique, its clinical applications and advantages, when comparing to the conventional Radiotherapy.

References

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How to Cite

Costa, M. A., Serafim, P., Vale, J., Genésio, P., Fonseca, G., Guedes, R., Ponte, F., Calçada, C., Stas, N., & Teixeira, J. (2009). Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) - illustration of the technique, indications and advantages. Portuguese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 47(2), 95–99. https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.236

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 2 (2009): Junho

Section

Original Article