IGRT is particularly useful when treating cancerous tumors in areas that are prone to movement, like the lungs, liver, and prostate gland. It can also be helpful in situations where the cancer cells are very close to critical organs and tissues that need more protection from the radiation therapy process, such as the brain or heart. Because IGRT allows for precisely targeted beams of radiation, it can potentially prevent more sensitive areas of the body from being over-exposed.

Your doctor may also suggest IGRT for situations that require higher doses of radiation.

IGRT is often used together with IMRT to more precisely target cancer cells. IMRT uses 3-D images and a computer program to ascertain the shape and size of the tumor, but IGRT can get even more granular by tracking the changes in the tumor over the course of therapy. The clearer the picture of the location and size of the tumor, the more likely it is that the radiation can be applied in larger, more targeted doses while avoiding impacting healthy areas of the body.

IMRT with IGRT may also minimize radiation side effects like dermatitis, fatigue, loss of appetite, and nausea. This is because the radiation is more pinpointed and less like to affect surrounding tissue. However, you should still discuss any side effects with your doctor and make sure you get the support you need.

After deciding on a strategy, your doctor will arrange for two stages of treatment for each session: the IGRT stage and the treatment stage. In total, each session should last between 10-15 minutes.

IGRT comes first so that there is a clean set of images to use for the treatment itself.

First, the radiation therapist will make sure you’re positioned correctly on the table. This may involve using foam blocks or other devices to help you stay still so the images come out clearly. IGRT images are compared to the images from your CT simulation to help target your radiation treatment to the right area.

After the images are taken, you will receive your treatment, either through IMRT or another method. This should be quick and painless, and the oncology therapist will be on hand the entire time to provide support and answer questions.

Because of the use of multiple images, IGRT sessions might take a little longer than other kinds of treatment. However, these additional images allow our oncologists to more accurately assess any changes in your body and make sure the treatment is applied to the correct area.

Receive all the advanced care you need in one location, right here in your community. Our team offers personalized, interdisciplinary care using the latest treatment technologies, including IGRT, IMRT, VMAT, SBRT, and SRS.