What Is Image-guided Radiation Therapy?

Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) uses imaging techniques to help us accurately deliver radiation. We use IGRT along with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or 3D conformal radiation therapy.

With IGRT, we use scans to examine the tumor and surrounding tissues. During treatment, we adjust your positioning so the radiation targets the tumor.

How Does IGRT Work?

Before radiation treatment, your radiation oncologist takes detailed CT scans (images created by computers and X-rays) of your body to help us locate the tumor. We use this image to adjust the radiation dosage. A specialized computer helps us plan exactly where to send radiation.

During IGRT, you lie on a treatment table. A machine rotates around you and sends precise doses of radiation to your body.  

To deliver the radiation, we may use the following:

• 3D conformal radiation therapy, which matches radiation beams to the tumor’s shape
• IMRT, which varies how much radiation we send to different parts of a tumor

What Is Image-Guided Radiation Therapy Used For?

Image-guided radiation therapy helps specialists treat tumors that may not stay in one place. For example, a lung tumor might move slightly when you breathe. With IGRT, we can observe tumor movement before and during radiation treatment.

Advanced Radiation Technology   

A machine called a linear accelerator rapidly and precisely delivers radiation. At Kettering Health, all of our cancer care locations have a top-of-the-line Elekta Versa HD™.

This machine allows us to deliver targeted radiation with millimeter accuracy in two minutes. With other technologies, treatment can take as long as an hour and a half. Kettering Health was the first location in the United States to achieve designation as an Elekta Center of Excellence. This designation means we use up-to-date, advanced technology in each of our cancer care locations.