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Apollo introduces IMRT
The IMRT is based on the principle of accurate radiation which is delivered to cancer cells without damaging normal cells, thus resulting in a more effective and safer treatment of cancer. In the past, this meant using multiple radiation beams that passed through the patient from many different angles. The benefit of IMRT is the delivery of a high radiation dose to the tumour, while sparing the nearby critical structures. Therefore, radiation-induced complications are minimized.
Talking about the introduction of this new technology, Preetha Reddy, MD, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Apollo Hospitals has always endeavoured to bring in the best in healthcare to India, and the introduction of the IMRT is a positive step in this direction. In this method lies a safer, more effective treatment of cancer and we hope that this has a far reaching effect in the healthcare industry.” IMRT is a technical challenge to the current 3D conformal radiotherapy practice and it needs a different set of tools. The main workflow process involves treatment planning and treatment delivery along with quality assurance practices to ensure that these treatments are delivered as intended. Thus the treatment has to be monitored by highly experienced physicians and physicists. Apollo Hospitals has ensured that the IMRT is manned only by the best in the industry. All the technologists at Apollo are certified RTT's (Radiation Therapy Technologists) and many are registered nurses too. There is also a complete physics department staffed by registered Medical Dosimetrists and supervised by a PhD level Medical Physicist. Treatment plans are based on CT scans, which make pictures of the human body in thin slices. In addition, the IMRT enables one to look inside the body from any angle to get a "beam's eye view" of the area to be treated. Apollo Hospital’s dedicated CT scanner would take pictures of the patient and import the information directly into the treatment planning system, thus eliminating the possibility of human error. Dr Janos Stumpf, Administrator & Director Research, Radiation Oncology, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, said, “Intensity Modulated RT treatment technique requires lots of preparation. It takes more time but focusses radiation almost exclusively to the target irrespective how irregular the target is. IMRT is practiced only in few, mostly academic institutions because of the complexity and labour of the method. However, due to its effectiveness, the introduction of IMRT by Apollo Hospitals has only furthered its commitment to the cause of healthcare in India.” The programme included a workshop and hands-on training for radiation oncologists from across the country, an academic session for doctors and a scientific session where international faculty, Dr. R Hawliczek, Donauspital, Vienna and Dr. Mary Kara Bucci, Radiation Oncologist, University of San Francisco shared their experience with the delegates. More about IMRT
IMRT uses the concept of shaping the radiation beam to the tumour. A step ahead, the fields are shaped in terms of dose-volume constrains for tumour and for normal tissues. Thus the IMRT treatment plans are much more complex compare to 3DCRT. Forming different Multileaf Collimator shaped segments for each beam angle, and delivering from different directional beams, the integral dose to the tumour is made uniform. At the same time the critical structure dose is limited. Therefore the IMRT dose prescription is more complex than standard prescription. The treatment planning, the execution of the treatment and the verification are all networked and are under remote computer control (known as the 'LANTIS' Treatment data management system). RR
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Bringing in safer, effective radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer, Apollo Hospitals, Asia’s largest healthcare services provider has introduced the Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for the first time in South India. The Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Services was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Health Minister Thalavai Sundaram, at the Apollo Specialty Hospitals recently.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a higher degree of 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT). IMRT technique offers clinical benefits that might not be achievable by the conventional 3DCRT.
