Image guided radiation therapy: A safety practice

Autor: Anastasia Sarchosoglou
Rok vydání: 2016
Předmět:
Zdroj: Physica Medica. 32:186
ISSN: 1120-1797
Popis: The aim of this presentation is to provide an understanding of the role of Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), the factors and activities that required for its safe and effective implementation. The goal of radiation therapy is to deliver high dose to target volume while minimizing the dose to surrounding healthy tissues. Sophisticated radiotherapy techniques could achieve this goal but require accuracy and high precision as during treatment delivery many uncertainties and errors may arise that could result in higher toxicity and poor local control. Image Guided Radiation Therapy is the process that images are taken prior and during a course of radiation treatment, to assess the accuracy of the radiation field placement and improve it if necessary. Various IGRT technologies are now widely available with all major imaging modalities represented. To ensure safe and accurate radiation therapy IGRT has to be carefully implemented developing comprehensive quality assurance programs and protocols for image acquisition and interpretation. Consideration should be given to factors that may influence the efficiency of the process such as effective communication of radiotherapy team, continuous education and training. Image guidance plays a vital role in radiation therapy providing tools for safe and precise treatments leading to improved therapy outcomes.
Databáze: OpenAIRE