By
Jill
Holder

"IMRT
allows us to make a distinction between cancer cells
and normal tissues with our radiation delivery. We
are now able to treat tumors while avoiding patient
complications associated with traditional radiation
therapy. In 10 years, this treatment will be the norm."
--
William St. Clair, M.D., Ph.D.,
assistant professor,
UK Department of Radiation Medicine
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July
12, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- The University
of Kentucky Department of Radiation Medicine is offering
a safer treatment for cancer patients. It is the only
health care agency in the Commonwealth where the procedure
is in use.
Using
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), UK physicians
can control the shape and depth of radiation beams
- minimizing the dose to surrounding normal organs
while increasing the intensity to the tumor. Because
exposure to healthy structures is limited, patients
who undergo IMRT will generally have fewer side effects
than those who undergo conventional radiation therapy.
This is
particularly important with today's cutting-edge treatments
because most patients also receive chemotherapy, which
can increase adverse reactions.
Recent
technological advances along with clinical studies
by UK faculty members have contributed to the development
and optimization of IMRT techniques.
Patients
with lung, prostate, pancreas, head and neck and other
cancers will potentially benefit from this new treatment,
said William St. Clair, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor,
UK Department of Radiation Medicine.
"IMRT
allows us to make a distinction between cancer cells
and normal tissues with our radiation delivery," St.
Clair said. "We are now able to treat tumors while
avoiding patient complications associated with traditional
radiation therapy. In 10 years, this treatment will
be the norm."
Traditional
radiation therapy involves directing several, separate
X-ray beams to the tumor from different angles.
IMRT replaces
typical uniform beam intensities with controlled variations
of intensity across each beam. The beam modulation
allows the radiation energy from all beams to be deposited
closely on the tumor, thus avoiding nearby healthy
tissues. By targeting only the tumor, IMRT reduces
possible adverse effects of the radiation.
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