Advanced Treatment Techniques

The radiation oncologist and dosimetrist will determine which technique is appropriate for each patient. Not every patient has the same treatment.

Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT)
Tumors usually have an irregular shape. 3D-CRT uses sophisticated computers and CT scans and/or MRI scans to create detailed, 3-D representations of the tumor and surrounding organs. The radiation oncologist can then shape the radiation beams exactly to the size and shape of the tumor. Because the radiation beams are very precisely directed, nearby normal tissues will receive less radiation exposure.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a specialized form of 3D-CRT that allows radiation to be more exactly shaped to fit a tumor. With IMRT, the radiation beam can be broken up into many “beamlets,” and the intensity of each beamlet can be adjusted individually. Using IMRT, it may be possible to further limit the exact amount of radiation that is received by normal tissues that are near the tumor. In some situations, this may also allow a higher dose of radiation to be delivered to the tumor.

Image Fusion
Imaging Fusion technology enhances radiation treatment planning by enabling oncologists to more precisely locate and define tumors. With image fusion, oncologists can scale, rotate and translate images into 3-D image for an accurate perspective of the size and shape of the tumor.  At SMRC, we can fuse previous CT, MRI, or Pet CT scans to your treatment planning CT obtained during your CT simulation.