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TomoTherapy, a commercialized form of IMRT, is the latest is radiation delivery systems. First used in 2003, TomoTherapy treatment is so new, that many oncologists aren’t even trained on it. However, TomoTherapy is gaining speed and is now used in over 100 locations across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
The term TomoTherapy comes from the Greek word “tomos,” which means “section”. Tomography, for example, is medical imaging technology that images “sections” of the body, more commonly referred to as “slices” in the medical community. Thus, TomoTherapy could be referred to as “slice therapy”.
The “slicing” comes from TomoTherapy’s ability to deliver radiation from multiple angles, rather than from several fixed positions, as the delivery system spins around the patient. This allows continuous delivery of radiation to the target, providing a higher dose than what is traditionally possible.
Furthermore, TomoTherapy combines a highly sophisticated form of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), treatment planning, and CT image guided patient positioning. Combining these technologies allows radiation oncologists to obtain an up-to-date image of a tumor location, position the patient, direct treatment right before delivery, and make last-minute adjustments if necessary.
Essentially, TomoTherapy allows for more accurate, higher dose delivery of radiation treatment while minimizing healthy-tissue damage as well 6as treatment and recovery times.
TomoTherapy is commonly used to treat cancers of the lungs, head and neck, breast, prostate, and others. If you are looking at treatment options and wish to consider TomoTherapy, you should ask your doctor specifically about it. Because it is so new not all doctors are aware of it and its advantages over conventional treatment for certain types of cancer.
If TomoTherapy is right for you, a radiation oncologist that has been specially trained in TomoTherapy will be required. Because of its limited distribution, few doctors receive TomoTherapy training during their residency. However, because TomoTherapy is a combination of existing technologies, the experience level in TomoTherapy specifically is less important than a doctor’s overall experience in radiation treatment.
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