[Image-guided radiation therapy. Paradigm change in radiation therapy]

Area of Science:

• Radiation oncology
• Medical imaging
• Cancer treatment

Context:

• Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) represents a significant advancement in radiation oncology workflows.
• Traditional treatment planning lacks real-time anatomical and organ movement considerations.
• IGRT integrates imaging directly into the treatment position for immediate pre-radiation assessment.

Purpose:

• To detail the principles and benefits of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT).
• To highlight how IGRT addresses limitations of conventional radiotherapy planning.
• To underscore the role of advanced imaging in modern cancer care.

Summary:

• IGRT connects imaging acquisition with treatment delivery, using tools like cone-beam CT or stereotactic ultrasound.
• This allows for direct comparison of actual patient position against the planned target position.
• The procedure facilitates reduced safety margins and lower radiation doses to healthy tissues, without compromising local recurrence control.

Impact:

• IGRT enables safer and more effective high-precision radiotherapy, particularly for challenging cases like prostate and brain tumors.
• It paves the way for future advancements in radiation oncology, moving towards closed-loop feedback treatment systems.
• The adoption of IGRT signifies a shift towards more personalized and adaptive cancer treatments.