Understanding the Various Techniques of Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy or also known as radiotherapy is regularly used to treat cancer. Currently, along with surgery and chemotherapy, radiotherapy is a standard treatment protocol for various types of cancer. Though, compared to other types of treatment modalities such as surgery and chemotherapy, radiotherapy has the least amount of knowledge and understanding by a majority of the public. Basically, there are four variations or types of radiotherapy which are explained below.

First of all is the conventional and conformal therapy, this procedure is usually administered to simple and basic cancer cases. This technique uses single or double beam directions to irradiate a specific target area without the use of intricate shielding areas of the body that has not been affected by the cancer such as the spine or brain. The basic principal for this procedure is applying multiple radiation beam directions to focus as close as possible towards the target are subsequently delivering enough radiation dosage to the cancer area and simultaneously limit radiation exposure to healthy tissues close by. Three dimension anatomic data of the patient is essential for both conventional and conformal therapy techniques in order to obtain close distributions of the cancer area.

The following radiotherapy technique is Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy or IMRT for short. Currently, it is the most sophisticated radiotherapy technology available. This technique allows non uniform radiation beams to be irradiated onto the patient from any position of the radiation source thus optimizes radiation distribution in a composite dosage. Basically, the result of IMRT therapy is quite more significant compared to other radiotherapy techniques since it limits the exposure of healthy organs and tissue to radiotherapy exposure. This technique allows higher doses of radiations to be focused on the cancer cells without enhancing the side effects of radiation exposure. Subsequently, this increases the survival rate post cancer therapy.

The next technique of radiotherapy is stereotactic radiosurgery or commonly called SRS in medical circles. Basically, contradictive to its name, SRS is a non surgical technique which applies intensively focused radiation beams to cure various types of cancer and lesions that are considered inoperable. It can also be used post operatively to eradicate any remaining cancer cells and tissue or in congenital arteriovenous malformations to destroy abnormal blood vessels. One important factor for this method of radiotherapy is that it requires an exact treatment setup with intense accuracy including computerized therapy planning and specific imaging. Basically this method of treatment is administered only once or a few times depending on the dosage required by the oncologist.

Finally, Image Guided Radiation Therapy or IGRT is another technique for radiotherapy. This technique is also quite accurate in administering radiotherapy treatment. We all know that the body is unique which constantly is mobile subsequently this mobility affects the nature of our organs. With the mobility of organs, it is quite logical that the cancer or tumor can also become mobile in between radiotherapy sessions. Basically, IGRT is a technique based on real time imaging where an image of the cancer patient is obtained to be matched up to the planning image before undergoing therapy.

Although the different techniques of radiotherapy may sound complicated and confusing, it is important for patients planning to undergo radiotherapy to understand the type of radiotherapy the will experience. For more information it is important to consult your physician especially an oncologist.