Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)

The board-certified radiation oncologists at Advocate Health Care are skilled in the latest cancer-fighting treatments, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This advanced type of radiotherapy uses a computer-controlled device, called a linear accelerator, to deliver precise doses of radiation to tumors or specific areas within the tumors. With the extreme accuracy of IMRT, cancers in parts of the body that were not previously safe to treat with radiation therapy now can be.

How it works

Using 3-D CT images along with computerized dose calculations, IMRT allows for the radiation to conform more precisely to the shape of the tumor by controlling the intensity of the radiation beam. The therapy allows higher radiation doses to be delivered directly to the tumor, or within it, while minimizing exposure to the surrounding area. That also often means fewer side effects.

Advocate currently uses IMRT to treat a wide range of cancers, including brain and spine, prostate, head and neck, lung and more. Because of its greater precision, IMRT may be a treatment option for patients who have reached the maximum allowable dose of conventional radiation therapy and have a recurrent tumor in the treated area.

Benefits of IMRT

• A more efficient way to administer radiation – at a higher level – while still protecting the healthy tissue around a tumor
• Reduces side effects that can come from other parts of the body receiving radiation
• Allows treatment to be accurately delivered to unusually shaped or complex cancers