Local tumor control is an essential element in treatment planning for any patient with cancer. Without local control, a patient risks the formation of distant metastases and a reduced chance of survival. The location of a tumor and  its proximity to radiosensitive structures dictate how well a conventional treatment method can deliver dose to a tumor. Often, because of the risk of damaging surrounding normal tissue, doses are not adequate to destroy the tumor.

Conformal radiotherapy allows physicians to target a tumor volume while sparing normal tissues. In contrast to standard radiotherapy planning using two dimensional (2D) x-ray images, conformal radiotherapy planning uses sophisticated computer technologies such as CT scans and MRI images to view tumors in three dimensions (3D)—width, height, and depth.

With superior tumor imaging, treatment plans can be created with greater precision. Our Radiation Oncology team prepares 3D conformal radiotherapy treatments using the state-of-the-art Eclipse® treatment planning system. Doctors, dosimetrists, and physicists work together to design radiation treatment beams that conform to the shape of a patient’s tumor, thus decreasing radiation to normal tissues and increasing the probability of local tumor control.