Advanced technology makes it possible to deliver radiation with unprecedented precisionEver since radiation proved to be a valuable weapon against cancer, doctors and researchers have been looking for ways to make radiation treatments safer and more effective. The critical issue has been finding a way to deliver enough radiation to destroy abnormal cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. In this search, tomotheraphy has been a remarkable leap forward.
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What is tomotherapy?
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Tomotherapy is an advanced, image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).
Tomotherapy combines state-of-the-art intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with the precision of computed tomography (CT) scanning technology. Radiation oncologists create detailed three-dimensional maps of the size and location of a tumor and use these images to plot the tumor’s exact contours, the surrounding organs, and sensitive tissue. Then they prescribe the dose of radiation the tumor should receive. Based on the prescription, the tomotherapy system programs the appropriate pattern for the treatment, calculating the precise position and intensity of the radiation beams. Part of tomotherapy’s groundbreaking technology allows a single radiation beam to be divided into thousands of tiny, narrow beamlets that deliver radiation from all angles, in a pattern planned by doctors and coordinated by computers. As the shape or the location of the tumor changes over time, the angles and intensity of the beams are adjusted as well to improve the effectiveness of the treatment. |
Why tomotherapy? |
Tomotherapy is a quick and painless process, with daily treatments that usually take about 20 minutes. The machine is shaped like a large ring, with a bench that slides through the ring’s opening. The radiation therapist positions you on the couch, usually on your back. Once treatment starts, you move slowly through the center of the ring while lying on the couch.
The first phase is an initial CT scan using the tomotherapy equipment, so that the doctor can check whether the tumor’s anatomy has changed and adjust the planned dosage and delivery accordingly. The therapist may also change your positioning on the couch as a result of this scan, and may also use special equipment to keep you from moving during treatment. Then the couch once again moves you through the machine, which delivers radiation in the prescribed pattern, typically over the course of five minutes. The Tomotherapy treatment system:
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