Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: IMRT

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, or IMRT, is an advanced radiation delivery system utilized at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). It is perhaps the most significant breakthrough in radiation treatment in the past three decades. IMRT employs new levels of accuracy to treat difficult-to-reach tumors in the pancreas, as well as other areas of the body.

IMRT allows our cancer experts to use higher radiation doses than traditional therapies would allow in these areas, while sparing more of the surrounding, healthy tissue. For example, IMRT can treat a tumor that surrounds an organ with little radiation reaching the organ itself. With pancreatic cancer, IMRT may be useful if you previously have had conventional radiation therapy and are experiencing recurrent tumors in the treated area.

Two ways that IMRT differs from conventional radiation therapies are as follows:

1. IMRT uses a powerful, advanced computer program to plan a precise dose of radiation in three dimensions, based on individual tumor size, shape and location.
2. IMRT directs radiation at the tumor, modulating the intensity of pencil-thin beams of radiation with laser accuracy. For some patients, IMRT replaces external beam treatments. In the majority of cases, however, IMRT is used in conjunction with, or after, another primary treatment.

Patients who have previously undergone conventional radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer may be candidates for IMRT. Its accuracy may allow physicians to administer more than the maximum, allowable dose of conventional radiotherapy, even at multiple sites. CTCA radiation oncologists will evaluate you to determine if IMRT may, in your specific case, be a viable treatment option for pancreatic cancer.

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