TomoTherapy

TomoTherapy is a way to deliver radiation treatment using a machine that looks like a CT scanner. The process combines treatment planning, CT image-guided patient positioning and treatment delivery into one integrated system, and allows continuous delivery of radiation beams from all angles.

The equipment used for TomoTherapy looks much like a computed tomography (CT) system. During treatment, the patient lies on a couch that moves continuously through a rotating ring. Radiation is delivered from all angles as the ring turns and the couch moves through the gantry.

TomoTherapy allows continuous delivery of radiation beams from all angles by using a slice by slice process, or one layer at a time which enables all areas of a tumour to receive radiation.

This therapy is very useful in treating hard to reach tumours, and can do so in an easy manner with limited damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

With TomoTherapy, physicians can adjust the size, shape and intensity of the radiation beam to accurately target the size, shape and location of the patient’s tumor. This offers several advantages, including verifying the location of each tumor before treatment. The tumor can be targeted with optimal levels of radiation. The aim is to minimise the damage to surrounding healthy areas, hence reducing the side effects of radiation therapy.

It is suitable for a treatment called craniospinal irradiation and also for odd shaped irregular tumors like sarcoma in limbs.