On 4/18/2008 birdy wrote:
What is the difference between tomotherapy and IMRT therapy?
Having had both treatments I did some research on this same question. What I have been told and found out from various sources is that with Tomo-Therapy the system not only focuses the radiation beam directly to the target but also utilizes an on board CT scanner that locates the size, position, and shape of the tumor at the time of treatment. Any corrections to the location of the target site are inputed into the system at that time avoiding unnecessary exposure to surrounding tisue. With me input corrections were made with each treatment.
With IMRT the radiation beam is also controlled and directed only to the target area but if the tumor has changed position even slightly their may be some radiation that has missed the target damaging healty tissue in the surrounding area. Again I am no expert on this subject and this is based just on my own research. For more info on this try going up on Tomo-Therapy web site. The last time I checked they had a wealth of information. Also this would be an excellent question for your radiation oncologist
Ralph4