Esophageal Cancer Treatment – IMRT
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Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Esophageal Cancer
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a state-of-the-art radiation delivery system used for esophageal cancer treatment at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). Able to treat difficult-to-reach esophageal tumors with high levels of accuracy, IMRT has been called the most significant radiation therapy breakthrough in the past 30 years. It offers significant advantages compared to standard radiation deliver methods. Not only does IMRT enable our cancer experts to use higher radiation doses than other radiation therapy methods are able to provide in hard-to-treat areas, it also helps to spare surrounding healthy tissue from radiation.
IMRT may be useful if you previously have had conventional radiation therapy for esophageal cancer, and are experiencing recurrent tumors in the treated area.
Two ways that IMRT differs from conventional radiation for esophageal cancer treatment are:
- Medical physicists and radiation oncologists at CTCA plan IMRT treatment employing an advanced computer program. This allows them to detail the precise dose of radiation, as well as where it will be targeted at, in three dimensions, based on individual tumor size, shape and location.
- IMRT directs radiation at the esophageal tumor and modulates the intensity of pencil-thin beams of radiation with laser accuracy.
In most cases, IMRT is used in conjunction, with or after, another primary esophageal cancer treatment (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy).
If you have previously undergone conventional radiation therapy for esophageal cancer, you may be considered a candidate for IMRT, as its accuracy will allow CTCA physicians to administer more than the maximum allowable dose of conventional radiotherapy, even at multiple sites. CTCA radiation oncologists and other physicians will evaluate you to determine if IMRT may be a viable esophageal cancer treatment option for you.
Next Topic: TomoTherapy® for Esophageal Cancer
