Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), one of the most important developments in radiation oncology in the past 25 years, involves technology to deliver radiation to tumors in the right location, quantity and time. Unavoidable irradiation of surrounding normal tissues is distributed so as to preserve their function. The achievements and future directions in the field are grouped in the three sections of the book, each suitable for supporting a teaching course. Part 1 contains topical reviews of the basic principles of IMRT, part 2 describes advanced techniques such as image-guided and biologically based approaches, and part 3 focuses on investigation of IMRT to improve outcome at various cancer sites.

This book provides detailed, state-of-the-art information and guidelines on the latest developments, innovations, and clinical procedures in image-guided and adaptive radiation therapy. The first section discusses key methodological and technological issues in image-guided and adaptive radiation therapy, including use of implanted fiducial markers, management of respiratory motion, image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy, three-dimensional conformal brachytherapy, target definition and localization, and PET/CT and biologically conformal radiation therapy. The second section provides practical clinical information on image-guided adaptive radiation therapy for cancers at all common anatomic sites and for pediatric cancers. The third section offers practical guidelines for establishing an effective image-guided adaptive radiation therapy program.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but IGRT (image guided radiation therapy) offers the possibility of more aggressive and enhanced treatments. The only available source on the subject that emphasizes new imaging techniques, and provides step-by-step treatment guidelines for lung cancer, this source helps clinici

Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) is a true revolution in the field of radiation oncology. IGRT provides the unprecedented means of conforming does to the shape of the target tissues in 3-dimensions reducing the risk of complications thereby improving the quality of life of irradiated patients. Moreover, IGRT provides the means to deliver higher than conventional doses thus improving the chance of cure in these patients. Despite its established benefits, several barriers exist to the widespread clinical implementation of IGRT. In the past, great concerns existed regarding the large capital outlay needed for both software and hardware. This barrier is less relevant today given the increased reimbursements possible with IGRT. Today, the most significant barrier is education. IGRT is a fundamentally new approach to both treatment planning and delivery. Adoption of the IGRT approach entails new ways of thinking in regard to patient selection, treatment planning and quality assurance measures. Unfortunately, apart from a few University-based short courses, limited resources are available for the physician and physicist interested in learning IGRT.

Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) is a new radiotherapy technology that combines the rapid dose fall off associated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and daily tumor imaging allowing for high precision tumor dose delivery and effective sparing of surrounding normal organs. The new radiation technology requires close collaboration between radiologists, nuclear medicine specialists, and radiation oncologists to avoid marginal miss. Modern diagnostic imaging such as positron emission tomography (PET) scans, positron emission tomography with Computed Tomograpgy (PET-CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows the radiation oncologist to target the positive tumor with high accuracy. As the tumor is well visualized during radiation treatment, the margins required to avoid geographic miss can be safely reduced , thus sparing the normal organs from excessive radiation. When the tumor is located close to critical radiosensitive structures such as the spinal cord, IGRT can deliver a high dose of radiation to the tumor and simultaneously decreasing treatment toxicity, thus potentially improving cure rates and patient quality of life. During radiotherapy, tumor shrinkage and changes of normal tissues/volumes can be detected daily with IGRT. The volume changes in the target volumes and organs at risk often lead to increased radiation dose to the normal tissues and if left uncorrected may result in late complications. Adaptive radiotherapy with re-planning during the course of radiotherapy is therefore another advantage of IGRT over the conventional radiotherapy techniques. This new technology of radiotherapy delivery provides the radiation oncologist an effective tool to improve patient quality of life. In the future, radiation dose-escalation to the residual tumor may potentially improve survival rates. Because the treatment complexity, a great deal of work is required from the dosimetry staff and physicists to ensure quality of care. Preliminary clinical results with IGRT are encouraging but more prospective studies should be performed in the future to assess the effectiveness of IGRT in improving patient quality of life and local control. In this Frontiers Research Topic, we encourage submission of original papers and reviews dealing with imaging for radiotherapy planning, the physics and dosimetry associated with IGRT, as well as the clinical outcomes for cancer treatment with IGRT for all tumor sites.

This title provides a global survey of the rapidly growing field of image-guided therapy. You find detailed coverage of a wide range of key topics, from MRI-guided surgery, robotic cardiac surgery, and brachytherapy and hyperthermia for cancer treatment ... to modern procedures in neurosurgery, laser cosmetic therapy, and ultrasound-guided high intensity focused ultrasound therapy for non-invasive tumor treatment. You learn the fundamentals of imaging and therapeutic modalities and their capabilities and constraints in implementation of image-guided therapy systems.

Presents the technical aspects of IMRT, and the clinical aspects of planning and delivery. The volulme explores a practical approach for radiation oncologists and medical physicists initiating or expanding and IMRT program, the fundamental biology and physics of IMRT, a site-by-site review of IMRT techniques with clinical examples, and reviews of published outcome studies.

Over the last 4 years, IMRT, IGRT, SBRT: Advances in the Treatment Planning and Delivery of Radiotherapy has become a standard reference in the field. During this time, however, significant progress in high-precision technologies for the planning and delivery of radiotherapy in cancer treatment has called for a second edition to include these new developments. Thoroughly updated and extended, this new edition offers a comprehensive guide and overview of these new technologies and the many clinical treatment programs that bring them into practical use. Advances in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and 4D and adaptive treatment planning are clearly presented. Target localization and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) systems are comprehensively reviewed as well. Clinical tutorials illustrate target definitions for the major cancer sites, and useful techniques for organ motion management are described and compared. There are also several chapters that explore the technical basis and latest clinical experience with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and summarize practical treatment recommendations. Furthermore, the significant and increasing contributions of proton therapy to cancer care are also highlighted, alongside the practical allocation of all these new technologies from an economic perspective. As a highlight of this volume, a number of images can be viewed online in time-elapse videos for greater clarity and more dynamic visualizationWritten by leading authorities in the field, this comprehensive volume brings clinical and technical practitioners of radiotherapy fully up to date with the key developments in equipment, technologies and treatment guidelines.

This issue of Radiation Medicine Rounds examines the latest advances in the use of radiation medicine in treatment of head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer treatment has undergone major change over the course of the past few years and Head and Neck Cancer addresses current best practices in the light of the most recent evidence. Head and Neck Cancer addresses a wide range of topics under the broad heading of head and neck oncology. In the initial section, the authors address therapeutic approaches with chapters on current and future treatments. Coverage is extensive and includes articles on IMRT, combined modality treatments, the use of targeted agents in conjunction with chemotherapy, the use of transoral robotic surgery followed by postoperative radiation therapy, and the use of particle therapy. The second section addresses issues of health services and covers palliative care, how to assess toxicity in patients, and issues of interpreting and integrating classic study data into treatment decisions. The third section examines the factors influencing clinical decisions ranging including biomarkers and image guidance. . Radiation Medicine Rounds features : In-depth, up-to-date expert reviews and analysis of major new developments in all areas of Radiation Medicine Each issue edited by an authority in that subject area Each issue focused on a single major topic in Radiation Medicine, providing coverage of advances in radiation science, radiation medicine technology, radiation medicine practice, and assessment of recent quality and outcome studies Series Description: Radiation Medicine Rounds is a review series providing a thorough analysis of new scientific, technologic, and clinical advances in all areas of radiation medicine. There will be an emphasis throughout on multidisciplinary approaches to the specialty, as well as an emphasis on quality and outcomes analysis. The goal is to provide authoritative, thorough assessment of a wide range of "hot topics" and emerging new data for the entire specialty of radiation medicine.