16-06-2010, 09:33 PM
a report by
Dwight E Heron, MD
Technological advances in the field of radiation oncology over the last decade have revolutionized care for cancer patients in the US and worldwide. These technological advancements have been both hardwareand software-based. More importantly, however, a major shift in the clinical paradigm exemplifies this ground-breaking change. Innovative approaches incorporating both technological and clinical changes have resulted in a complex and elegant mix of imaged-based approaches using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance, and positron emission tomography (PET). These are used in conjunction with treatment delivery techniques including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided brachytherapy, and adaptive treatment approachesâ€image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and adaptive radiation therapy (ART). Central to the success of any local therapy is the accurate diagnosis of tumor extent. Functional imaging, especially PET-CT, is being increasingly incorporated into the oncological management of a variety of cancer diagnoses. Its use in the modern radiation oncology practice is only now being realized. This review will focus on the implementation of PET-CT in staging, treatment plan design, and assessment of response in radiation oncology.
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http://touchoncologyfiles/article_pdfs/onco_7605
