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The rapid evolution of computer programs has made possible further advancements in the delivery of conformal 3D radiation treatments called intensity modulated conformal therapy. Radiation beams are manipulated through advanced computer-controlled technology to change the intensity of the beam profile around both tumor and normal tissues. This new approach exploits the additional control that intensity modulation provides in achieving more conformality of the radiation dose delivered to the treatment site.
The availability of this new approach at Community Medical Center creates the ability to deliver multiple, more complex conformal treatment fields.
IMRT provides for the ultimate in dose conformality to the treatment site. This allows the physicians to deliver significant less radiation to the normal tissues and organs adjacent to the treatment site. This may result in fewer side effects and possibly in superior local control of the disease at the treatment site.
Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) is used
in combination with 3D Conformal radiation therapy
or IMRT. Images are taken of the area being treated
(either with ultrasound, or x-rays) and compared
to those from the day of initial planning. If the
target area is in a different position from the
day of initial planning which is due to normal organ
movement, then the radiation field is moved to that
new position of the target. This way, the target
is always covered with the prescribed dose of radiation
treatment. Community Medical Center was the first
radiation oncology center in either Ocean or Monmouth
Counties to use ultrasound for Image Guided Therapy.
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