Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT)

What is IGRT?

With conventional radiotherapy, the area of the tumor is indicated by markers on the skin. It is a rather pragmatic technique to set the radiation dose to the right spot during each therapy session. However, owing to positional changes, skin mobility and displacement of tissue structures due to growth, the conventional approach is associated with a certain degree of deviation in the range of millimeters. In order to eliminate this error, a radiographic scan is obtained directly in advance of the image-guided irradiation. On the basis of this data, the energy beam can now be precisely adjusted.

How does IGRT work?

The foundation of planning the irradiation is radiologic imaging by means of either computed tomography or X-ray. Normally, the imaging machine is integrated into the linear accelerator ( radiation device) and enables visualization of the tumor just before irradiation, once the patient has already been positioned in the proper position beneath the linear accelerator. Once again, the borders of the tumor are determined and, if necessary, the patient's position can be modified by adjusting the positioning table.

When is image-guided radiotherapy employed?

Nowadays, image-guided radiotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of cancers. Frequent areas of use include tumors of the prostate, female reproductive organs, the digestive tract and lungs. Accurate demarcation of the tumor mass provides reduced exposure fields, reduced exposure times and more effective doses of irradiation.

What are the advantages?

When planning therapy with the help of an X-ray image, the linear accelerator can be guided very precisely by reference to the bone morphology. In addition, X-ray imaging bears a minimal additional radiation exposure of the region of interest. Computed tomography has a slightly higher radiation burden, although it can also visualize soft tissues, which means that the tumor can be delineated more accurately from adjacent structures.

What are the risks and side effects?

With image-guided radiotherapy, organ-specific and local side effects may arise in the area surrounding the irradiation exposure. Inflammation of the mucosa is more common, and in case the abdominal region is irradiated, patients may experience nausea and vomiting. Since the skin normally lies within the beam of energy, skin lesions may develop at the site where the high-energy radiation enters the body. However, using computed tomography to determine the required amount of energy and taking sensitive tissue structures into account, such complications of any radiotherapy can be kept to a minimum.

Which doctors and clinics specialize in the field of image guided radiotherapy?

If you're in need of a doctor, you expect the best medical care possible. So of course patients are curious to find out what clinic to go to. As there is no objective way to answer this question and a legitimate doctor would never claim to be the best, patients must rely on a doctor's experience.

Let us help you find an expert for your condition. All listed doctors and clinics have been reviewed by us for their outstanding specialization in the field of image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and are looking forward to your inquiry or wish for treatment.