There are three main types of radiation therapy, which include external beam radiation, internal radiation, and radiopharmaceuticals.
GenesisCare - radiotherapy explained
External beam radiation therapy
External beam radiation is the most common type of radiation used in the treatment of cancer. This type of radiation uses an external machine away from the body to direct radiation towards the area of the body affected by cancer. External beam radiation therapy is ideal for treating large areas or targeting different parts of the body simultaneously. Although it is aimed at the cancerous tissue, it often also affects the surrounding normal tissue.
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Three-dimensional (3D) conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) is a specialized technique that uses a realistic visualization of the tumor. This technique involves radiation targeted precisely to the tumor to minimize exposure of normal tissues to the radiation. It is essential that the imaging is accurate, as any part of the tumor that is unmapped will not be treated effectively.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) also uses a 3D map of the tumor but aims the photons towards the tumor from several directions with the ability to control the intensity of each beam. This allows greater dose control, with higher intensity to the tumor and less radiation to surrounding tissues. Similar to 3D-CRT, the patient undergoing IMRT is required to stay in the same position throughout treatment and unmapped areas of the tumor will not be targeted.
Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) allows oncologists to take images of the tumor immediately before therapy is administered and make adjustments to the therapy accordingly.
Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) uses protons rather than photons to target the tumor. To date, it is unclear if protons or photons are more effective in radiation therapy.
Stereotactic radiotherapy uses a machine to focus hundreds of different narrow radiation beams at the tumor from different directions. This technique also requires accurate imaging to determine where the beams should be directed to effectively target the tumor and minimize exposure of other tissues.
Internal radiation therapy
Also known as brachytherapy, internal radiation therapy involves a source of radiation placed near the area to be treated with radiation to minimize travel time of the beam and risk of damage to other tissues.
Interstitial radiation refers to when the radiation source is put in a position inside or right next to the tumor, using forms of seeds or tubes. Intracavitary radiation involves the placement of radioactive material inside a body cavity like the chest, rectum, uterus, or vagina.
Permanent brachytherapy uses small pellets or seeds that are placed inside the tumor. These gradually emit radiation over a period of weeks or months and are conveniently small in size. Furthermore, this form of radiation therapy causes minimal discomfort, which allows the seeds or pellets to be left in place on a permanent basis. Temporary brachytherapy involves the placement of slightly larger cylinders inside or near the tumor, which need to be removed after treatment due to their larger size, as the cylinders may cause discomfort.
Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiopharmaceuticals are types of drugs that contain radioisotopes, which can be administered to the body via an infection, an oral pill, or placement inside a cavity, such as the rectum or vagina. These pharmaceuticals emit radiation in the form of alpha and gamma particles, which are designed to target the areas affected by tumor growth.
In most cases, this type of radiation is used to deliver radiation needed for imaging, but it can also be used in the treatment of specific tumors.
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