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