Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for Laryngeal Cancer

Laryngeal Cancer Treatment: IMRT

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), a state-of-the-art laryngeal cancer treatment offered at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), has been cited as one of the most significant breakthroughs in radiation treatment in the past 30 years. Not only can IMRT treat especially difficult-to-reach laryngeal tumors, but it also allows much higher doses of radiation to be delivered than other forms of radiotherapy. IMRT enables healthy laryngeal tissue and organs to be spared while targeting the maximum radiation dose at the tumor.

Two ways that IMRT enhances conventional methods of radiation therapy are as follows:

• IMRT generates extremely detailed computer images that outline the size, shape and location of laryngeal tumors. This helps your radiation therapy team at CTCA (including your radiation oncologist) to plan your radiotherapy treatments based on your tumor’s dimensions.
• IMRT allows us to modulate the intensity of the radiation beams. In sum, the pencil-thin beams of radiation vary in strength applied to different areas of the tumor.

Because it allows higher radiation doses to be delivered than some conventional radiation therapies, IMRT may be recommended as a laryngeal cancer treatment for you. This may particularly be the case if you have already received conventional radiation therapy and are experiencing recurrent tumors in the treated area. For some laryngeal cancer patients, IMRT may replace external beam radiation. However, in most cases, IMRT is used in conjunction with, or after, another primary form of laryngeal cancer treatment.

Working together with you, CTCA radiation oncologists will evaluate your stage of laryngeal cancer and unique needs to determine whether IMRT is a promising option.

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