Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer

Pichon Riviere A, Augustovski F, Ferrante D, Regueiro A, Garcia Marti S
Record ID 32005000643
Spanish
Authors' objectives:

This study aims to summarise the available evidence on intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer.

Authors' results and conclusions: As regards radiation therapy, it is stated that an increase in the radiotherapy dose within certain limits is accompanied by an increase in the probability of local disease control. However, dosage increase results in a higher morbidity of healthy tissues and critical organs adjacent to the tumor. That is how different techniques emerged tending to better focus the area to be radiated, from linear accelerator to three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy . Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a new technology consisting in a radiation therapy with a planning method based on computerized programs and its specific application to the patient is through space radiation and temporally modulated beams directed to solid tumors.
Authors' recommendations: Scientific evidence suggesting that three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, as well as IMRT, may be helpful to minimize normal tissue structure involvement and to contribute to a lower toxicity maintaining or increasing the therapeutic efficacy is still limited. There is still no information coming from controlled clinical trials with harder endpoints (mortality, disease-free survival, quality of life, acute and immediate toxicity) to be able to assess its relative efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
Authors' methods: Overview
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.iecs.org.ar/
Year Published: 2004
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Argentina
MeSH Terms
  • Male
  • Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted
  • Prostatic Neoplasms
  • Radiotherapy, Conformal
Contact
Organisation Name: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy
Contact Address: Dr. Emilio Ravignani 2024, Buenos Aires - Argentina, C1414 CABA
Contact Name: info@iecs.org.ar
Contact Email: info@iecs.org.ar
Copyright: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS)
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