3D CRT Radiation Therapy
The aim of 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) is to provide a conformal dose distribution to tumors, while sparing normal structures around. The use of patient-specific 3D images distinguishes 3D-CRT from traditional radiotherapy in the treatment planning process. CT and/or MRI images are usually used to identify both the areas of concern and adjacent normal structures.
In this basis, comprehensive strategies are designed to provide a distribution of the radiation dose within the patient, where the high-dose regions are located within the tumors. Large doses of radiation may be delivered to cancer cells thus greatly decreasing the amount of radiation provided by healthy tissues surrounding them.
The patient must come in for routine radiation sessions (except for weekends) that usually last about 15-30 minutes over the course of weeks. Dividing the radiation therapy into smaller doses over a few weeks tends to minimize damage to the healthy tissue around the tumor, and weekend rest breaks allow normal cells to recover
