Intensity modulated radiation therapy

Clarification of the role of radiation dose escalation particularly using innovative techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and either single dose or fractionated stereotactic radiation. 

Improvements in the physical selectivity, from orthovoltage x-ray to cobalt-60 and high-energy linear accelerators, combined with more powerful diagnostic tools and radiation delivery methods have continuously improved the results of photon therapy (3-D or inverse planning, conformal- and intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and stereotactic methods). The safety and the reliability of photon therapy are well established. 

From a technical point of view, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) optimizes several parameters selection of multiple beams and, for each beam, optimization of dose, dose rate, size and shape, etc. Tomotherapy optimizes the dose distribution by IMRT in successive sections with immediate verification gamma knife, cyberknife, and radiosurgery concentrate high radiation doses in well-defined small volumes. 

Powerful irradiation techniques are now available or under development for photons intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), tomotherapy, gamma knife, cyberknife, radiosurgery, etc. These techniques make it possible to irradiate any volume of any complex shape with minimum irradiation of critical normal structures. 

Clinical Target Volumes in Conformal and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy... 

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