Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

Cedars-Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of the only facilities to offer IMRT with a Varian Clinac Linear Accelerator Mini-Multi Leaf Collimator (MMLC) and Impac record and verify software. This combined technology ensures optimal, accurate and timely patient care. IMRT has already demonstrated better tumor control and fewer side effects in prostate cancer patients. We are pleased to offer our prostate cancer patients this exciting advancement. In the near future, this technology will also be available for head and neck cancers.

Our computerized treatment lasts approximately 8 minutes, which is only slightly longer than less complex radiation treatments. By using 120 computer controlled metal leaves in the head of the machine, physicians are able to shape the treatment fields to the exact cancerous area. Rather than having a single dose of radiation also pass through healthy tissue, IMRT distributes the radiation into many pencil thin beams, which focus directly on the cancer. As a result, the healthy tissue is exposed to minimal radiation while maximizing the tumor dose in a more precise and exact manner.

Overall Benefits of IMRT

Better tumor coverage- this therapy accurately targets the tumor by allowing the physician to direct the radiation from multiple different angles.

Fewer complications- since this therapy is tailored to the exact size of the tumor, surrounding tissues remain healthy. There are less short and long-term side effects.

Higher treatment dosage to the right area- because radiation is targeted, the physician can deliver the most accurate and highest dose of radiation to the malignant area.

What distinguishes IMRT at CSCCC?

Ensured High Quality- CSCCC is the only facility in California to use Impac Software. This enhancement guarantees optimal quality patient care by constantly checking and documenting the delivered treatment angles. Physicians can confirm the dose planned equaled the dose given.

Larger Cancer Area Treated with IMRT - Other types of IMRT Accelerators have smaller field sizes or windows through which to direct the radiation beam. To compensate, IMRT is used to radiate some of the tumor and conventional therapy is utilized for the remainder. At CSCCC, our field height is much larger (i.e., 10 cm versus 2 cm in other accelerators) and we are able to treat the entire prostate and surrounding area with IMRT technology.

Faster Treatment- Since Cedars-Sinai's accelerator has a 120 mini-multi leaf collimator to precisely outline the tumor contour; we are able to rapidly change the field dimensions being treated. As a result, our treatments are 4 times faster than other IMRT machines and more patients can benefit from IMRT each day!

Sliding Window/Dynamic Technique- At CSCCC, we use 5 separate beams rather than one that rotates around the patient. By doing so, a highly shaped cloud envelops the cancerous lesion throughout the treatment.

For more information, send an email to info@csccc.com or call 1-800-2-CANCER or 310-360-4245.