Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for Pharyngeal Cancer

Pharyngeal Cancer Treatment: IMRT

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a leading radiation therapy offered at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). It has been called the most significant breakthrough in radiation treatment in the past 30 years. IMRT can treat difficult-to-reach pharyngeal cancer tumors with new levels of accuracy. Our radiation oncologists are able to prescribe higher radiation doses than standard radiation therapy would allow in the head and neck areas, while sparing more of the surrounding, healthy pharyngeal tissue.

Because IMRT delivers thin beams of radiation in exact doses, it can treat a tumor that surrounds an organ with little radiation reaching the organ itself. IMRT may be an option if you previously had conventional radiation therapy for pharyngeal cancer, and are experiencing recurrent tumors in the treated area.

IMRT differs from conventional radiation in the following ways:

• It uses an advanced computer program to plan a precise dose of radiation in three dimensions, based on individual tumor size, shape and location.
• It directs radiation at the tumor, modulating the intensity of the beams of radiation with laser accuracy.

IMRT can replace external beam treatments for some patients. However, in most cases, IMRT is used in conjunction with, or after, another primary form of pharyngeal cancer treatment.

Next Topic: TomoTherapy^® for Pharyngeal Cancer