IGRT – Image Guided Radiation Therapy

IGRT – Image Guided Radiation Therapy

is the use of imaging during radiation therapy to improve the precision and accuracy of treatment delivery. IGRT is used to treat tumors in areas of the body that are prone to movement, such as the lungs (affected by breathing), liver, pancreas and prostate gland as well as tumors located close to critical organs and tissues like cervical and endometrial tumors. Radiation therapy machines are equipped with imaging technology to image the tumor before and during treatment. By comparing these images to the reference images taken during simulation, the patient's position and/or the radiation beams may be adjusted to more precisely target the radiation dose to the tumor. To help align and target the radiation equipment, some IGRT procedures may use fiducial markers, ultrasound, MRI, x-ray images of bone structure, CT scan, 3-D body surface mapping, electromagnetic transponders or colored ink tattoos on the skin.