Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
Willis-Knighton has been a pioneer in the development of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). IMRT is a means of delivering highly precise and conformal radiation therapy. During treatment, the beam is constantly molded to the specific size and shape of the tumor which delivers maximum dose to the tumor while leaving adjacent healthy tissues with minimal exposure. Since these healthy tissues (organs such as the heart and lungs, spinal cord, rectum, bladder, salivary glands) receive less radiation, patients have fewer side effects and a higher quality of life after treatment.
Because of the precise nature of IMRT images are taken prior to every treatment to verify the exact location of the tumor. Depending on the treatment machine used, these images may be a CT scan or a series of x-rays that are digitally modeled into a CT-type image. This allows our team to ensure that the proper dose of radiation is delivered to the tumor and surrounding structures.