Custom-made immobilization devices are fabricated to be used during treatment planning and treatment, which ensure consistent patient positioning. This step is crucial to reproducing accurate treatment delivery on a daily basis. CT and/or MRI are done with the patient in the treatment position in order to provide a well-defined 3-dimensional tumor volume.
Through the use of sophisticated computer software, this volume is reconstructed at the conformal treatment planning workstation. The physician and physicist then devise an optimal treatment plan by placing radiation beams on the images. These beams can be uniquely shaped to “conform” to the tumor by using custom lead shields or shielding devices called MLC (MultiLeaf Collimator) that can be designed to match the specific tumor shape.
Once an ideal conformal radiotherapy plan is achieved, the patient returns for a simulation appointment where the plan can be verified by the use of radiographs, prior to the start of treatment delivery.
3D Conformal Radiotherapy
The Department of Radiation Oncology provides state of the art conformal radiotherapy, also known as 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy for the treatment of many types of cancer. Even with the most careful planning, some amount of normal tissue is irradiated when a patient receives external beam radiotherapy, thus resulting in adverse side effects. The goal of conformal radiotherapy is to tailor the beam of radiation so that it follows the contours of the target or tumor more closely, leading to fewer side effects and better outcomes.
