IMRT is a revolutionary way for physicians to administer conformal radiation therapy. IMRT treats prostate cancer patients with thousands of small laser-like beams, rather than a few large, uniform beams.
The "crossfire" of these beams — much like radiosurgery — allows the physician to deliver a uniform dose of radiation to the tumor while protecting the sensitive, surrounding tissue from high-dose radiation. Patients undergoing IMRT may need fewer treatments, thus saving time and money, as well as tissue.
If the tumor has wrapped itself around an organ, there may be no combination of uniform intensity beams that will safely separate the tumor from the healthy organ. Adding intensity modulation allows the physician to focus a more intense dose of radiation to the tumor while limiting the radiation dose to the adjacent healthy tissue.
In the past, applications of conformal radiation therapy were restricted to the use of radiation beams of uniform intensity with contours corresponding to the "beam's eye view" of the tumor.
According to Robert Wollman, M.D., medical director of radiation oncology at Saint John's, "It's a kinder and gentler kind of radiation treatment because it leaves healthy tissue alone and involves less recovery and hardship for patients. Patients who undergo this procedure are far less likely to experience painful bladder or rectal damage from radiation beams and they may have less erectile dysfunction as well."
For more information, please call 310-829-8913.