3D Conformal Radiation - 3D Conformal Radiation

3D Conformal Radiation
Central Indiana Cancer Centers

Radiation treatments are delivered from a treatment machine called a linear accelerator. The radiation beam comes out of the machine in a rectangular shape. This rectangle can then be modified by blocks to shape the radiation beam into the desired shape. Several individually-shaped beams can be aimed into the body from different angles. The full dose of radiation only occurs where these beams overlap; anywhere outside of the overlap volume, only a partial low-dose of radiation occurs. (This can be compared to spotlights aimed at an actor - where all of the spotlights overlap the light is brightest; outside of this overlap area there is much less light.) Using 3-Dimensional planning computer systems the physician and physics staff can determine the best angles and shape of beams to make the radiation closely fit the tumor and desired area of treatment, while keeping the radiation as low as possible to nearby structures that don't need to be treated and could be injured by the radiation.

This process is called "3-D' because the organs, tumor, etc are reconstructed on the computer in all 3 dimensions. It is called "conformal" because the radiation is made to conform exactly to the desired shape.

The physicians and physics staff of Central Indiana Cancer Centers have been using 3-D Conformal radiation since it was first introduced and FDA-approved, so they have as much experience with this method of radiation delivery as it is possible to have.

CICC uses the latest technology in the form of linear accelerators, 3-D treatment planning systems, and CT-simulators (as opposed to regular X-ray simulators that most radiation departments use). The CICC therapists stay up-to-date and are fully trained. This allows CICC to continue t provide the most advanced form of 3-D Conformal radiation possible as technology continues to advance.