Open AccessImage guidance in radiation therapy for better cure of cancer
Author(s) -
Grégoire Vincent,
Guckenberger Matthias,
Haustermans Karin,
Lagendijk Jan J. W.,
Ménard Cynthia,
Pötter Richard,
Slotman Ben J.,
Tanderup Kari,
Thorwarth Daniela,
Herk Marcel,
Zips Daniel
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
molecular oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.332
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1878-0261
pISSN - 1574-7891
DOI - 10.1002/1878-0261.12751
Subject(s) - image guided radiation therapy , radiation therapy , medicine , radiation oncology , magnetic resonance imaging , medical physics , medical imaging , cancer , radiogenomics , radiology , nuclear medicine , radiomics
The key goal and main challenge of radiation therapy is the elimination of tumors without any concurring damages of the surrounding healthy tissues and organs. Radiation doses required to achieve sufficient cancer‐cell kill exceed in most clinical situations the dose that can be tolerated by the healthy tissues, especially when large parts of the affected organ are irradiated. High‐precision radiation oncology aims at optimizing tumor coverage, while sparing normal tissues. Medical imaging during the preparation phase, as well as in the treatment room for localization of the tumor and directing the beam, referred to as image‐guided radiotherapy (IGRT), is the cornerstone of precision radiation oncology. Sophisticated high‐resolution real‐time IGRT using X‐rays, computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or ultrasound, enables delivery of high radiation doses to tumors without significant damage of healthy organs. IGRT is the most convincing success story of radiation oncology over the last decades, and it remains a major driving force of innovation, contributing to the development of personalized oncology, for example, through the use of real‐time imaging biomarkers for individualized dose delivery.