Abstract
Progress in radiotherapy is guided by the need to realize improved dose distributions,
i.e. the ability to reduce the treatment volume toward the target volume and still
ensuring coverage of that target volume in all dimensions. Poor ability to control
the tumour’s location limits the accuracy with which radiation can be delivered to
tumour-bearing tissue. Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) aims at in-room imaging
guiding the radiation delivery based on instant knowledge of the target location and
changes in tumour volume during treatment. Advancements are usually not to be attributed
to a single event, but rather a combination of many small improvements that together
enable a superior result. Image-guidance is an important link in the treatment chain
and as such a major factor in this synergetic process. A historic review shows that
many of the so-called new developments are not so new at all, but did not make it
into mainstream radiotherapy practice at that time. Recent developments in improved
IT infrastructures, novel irradiation techniques, and better knowledge of functional
and morphologic information may have created the need and optimal environment to revive
the interest in IGRT.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 17, 2007
Accepted:
November 20,
2007
Received in revised form:
November 18,
2007
Received:
October 1,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
