Descripción general
La radioterapia de intensidad modulada es un tipo avanzado de radioterapia.
La radioterapia utiliza haces poderosos de energía para destruir las células cancerosas.
La energía puede provenir de rayos X, protones u otras fuentes.
Con la radioterapia de intensidad modulada, los haces de radiación se personalizan cuidadosamente.
La conformación de los haces coincide con la forma del cáncer.
Los haces pueden moverse por un arco mientras suministran la radiación.
La intensidad de cada haz puede modificarse.
El resultado es un tratamiento de radiación controlado con precisión.
La radioterapia de intensidad modulada suministra la dosis de radiación correcta de la manera más segura y eficaz posible.
La radioterapia de intensidad modulada puede utilizarse para tratar el cáncer y otros tumores que no son cancerosos, denominados tumores benignos.
Puede tratar el cáncer y los tumores en cualquier parte del cuerpo.
El propósito de la radioterapia de intensidad modulada es suministrar la dosis correcta de radiación en el objetivo y minimizar la radiación fuera del objetivo.
Esto ayuda a reducir el riesgo de dañar el tejido cercano sano.
Por qué se realiza
La radioterapia de intensidad modulada se utiliza para tratar el cáncer y otros tumores que no son cancerosos.
El propósito del tratamiento es dirigir la radiación a un objetivo específico para no dañar el tejido sano cercano.
Riesgos
As with most medical procedures, there are risks to intensity-modulated radiation therapy, also called IMRT. The specific risks depend on which part of the body gets the radiation and how much is used.
| Part of body being treated |
Common side effects |
| Any part |
Hair loss at the treatment site that can be permanent, skin irritation at the treatment site, tiredness |
| Head and neck |
Dry mouth, thickened saliva, trouble swallowing, sore throat, changes in the way food tastes, mouth sores |
| Chest |
Trouble swallowing, cough, shortness of breath |
| Abdomen |
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea |
| Pelvis |
Diarrhea, bladder irritation, urinating often, changes in sexual function |
If you have side effects, they often can be controlled during treatment. After treatment, most side effects go away.
Sometimes side effects develop after treatment. These are called late side effects. Very rarely, a new cancer may develop years or decades after cancer treatment. It can be caused by radiation or other treatments. This is called a second primary cancer. Ask your healthcare professional about side effects that could happen after treatment, both short term and long term.
Cómo prepararte
To prepare for intensity-modulated radiation therapy, also called IMRT, you might have imaging tests. These tests typically are computerized tomography scans, also called CT scans, or magnetic resonance imaging, also called MRI. The images from the tests are used to make detailed pictures of the area to be treated. Radiation therapy professionals use those pictures to plan the shape and path of the radiation beams. This planning allows specific doses of radiation to be delivered to the treatment area.
Qué esperar
During intensity-modulated radiation therapy, also called IMRT, you receive treatment with radiation. Based on the treatment planning, radiation therapy delivered during IMRT is carefully focused on the cancer or tumor to be treated. This lowers the amount of radiation to healthy tissue.
Resultados
After intensity-modulated radiation therapy, also called IMRT, you might have imaging tests to see if the cancer is shrinking. Ask your healthcare team when you can expect to know the results of your treatment. Sometimes the cancer responds to treatment right away. Other times it may take weeks or months to see the treatment working.
Estudios clínicos
Explora los estudios de Mayo Clinic de pruebas y procedimientos para ayudar a prevenir, detectar, tratar o controlar las afecciones.