What is Image- Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT)?

How Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) Came to Be

Image-guided radiotherapy, or IGRT as it is commonly known, evolved from IMRT. IMRT provides far greater beam shaping capabilities than 3D radiation therapy, in this manner allowing more sophisticated and precise treatment. However, radiologists continued to require a safety margin for error for all treatments because of the intrinsic doubt of exact tumor location each and every day.  For example, the prostate moves in a multitude of directions each day depending on how full or empty the bladder and rectum are. In the past, even with IMRT, Drs would need to add a safety margin around the prostate to account for this day-to-day variability in prostate location.  This added margin resulted in a larger target (prostate) to be treated with radiation and more of the bladder and rectum included within the radiation field, thereby, increasing the risk of damage to these healthy organs. Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) has changed all of this. IGRT does exactly what its name states: it uses the image of the target to guide the delivery of radiation for each and every treatment. 

Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), the All-Digital Treatment System

Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), the all-digital treatment system, allows physicians to see a patient’s tumor in real- time at treatment, even if a tumor has moved - because of a patient's breathing, heartbeat, gastrointestinal changes or other activities. Tumors also change their position and their size during the course of radiotherapy treatment, which typically consists of multiple treatments over several weeks.

At the start of radiotherapy, technicians take a CT scan of a tumor and enter that data into a treatment-planning system. Image-Guided Radiotherapy IGRT software produces a three-dimensional, digitized image of the patient's tumor, sharply identifying the slightest contour. Once that image is captured, it can be recalled for every treatment session. If significant tumor movement has occurred, physicians can then adjust the patient's position or, if required, re-do the treatment plan, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

 Why Use Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT)?

With Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), physicians can match the radiation beam to the precise shape of your tumor far more precisely reducing the total amount of radiation you using built-in imaging technology at ultra-low doses.  The Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) reduces or eliminates the need for implanting markers, as physicians can visualize soft tissue detail using imaging tools. Tumors that were previously untreatable, because of their proximity to organs or the spinal cord can now receive treatment, which is a huge advance in treatment methods.

The MedWOW Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) Solution

MedWOW features a comprehensive selection of new, used and refurbished radiology equipment, including complete image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) systems by Nomos, especially the Nomos Bat Belfry.

As the largest global online marketplace for all kinds of medical equipment, MedWOW features a comprehensive searchable catalogue that allows you to filter for make, manufacturer, continent, condition, price range, seller’s business type, and other filters particular to radiology equipment.

If you don’t find the specific image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) system you are looking for, you can post a free buying request which typically will bring you a number of competitive quotes from some of MedWOW’s worldwide sellers.

MedWOW Explains Digital Radiology (DR)

Digital Radiology (DR) Replaces Standard X-Ray
Digital radiology (DR) may represent the top scientific breakthrough in medical imaging over the last ten years. The use of radiographic films in x-ray imaging might become obsolete in a few years, due to the superiority of digital radiology (DR). An appropriate comparison that is commonly understood is the replacement of standard film cameras with digital cameras. Images can be immediately acquired, deleted, modified, and subsequently sent to a network of computers, which is especially important in the medical field.

Benefits of Digital Radiology (DR)
The benefits from digital radiology (DR) are enormous. It can make a radiological clinic or department filmless. The referring physician can view the requested image on a desktop or a personal computer and often file a report just a few minutes after the examination was completed. The images are no longer held in a single location; but can be seen simultaneously by physicians who are miles apart. In addition, the patient can be given the x-ray images on a CD to take to another physician or hospital for consultation.

Advantages of digital radiology (DR) include time efficiency, as a result of being able to do without the standard chemical processing, as well as the ability to digitally transfer and enhance images. Being able to enlarge and highlight images is of paramount importance in x-rays, and digital radiology (DR) gives physicians and technicians better diagnostic tools, as a result. Also, less radiation can be used to produce an image of similar contrast, which is very important, especially in children and adolescents for whom it is important to keep exposure to radiation at a minimum.

MedWOW’s Digital Radiology (DR) Offerings
MedWOW, the multilingual, global medical equipment marketplace, features medical device inventories from dealers all over the world, so locating the specific digital radiography system or add-on you need from a variety of makes, models and manufacturers in a safe and protected environment, is easy and secure. MedWOW is the leading medical equipment portal for all types of medical equipment trade, and with over 12,000 users visiting the site daily; locating your particular digital radiography system or upgrade is a hassle-free experience. MedWOW also provides free Escrow service, so you can be sure you are getting exactly what you pay for.

Some of the digital radiography systems and add-ons currently available from imaging dealers throughout the world include: DIS Digital Radiography Upgrade Adapter #ezDR4000, RF System Digital Radiography Upgrade Adapter Naomi, DRTECH Digital Radiography Upgrade Adapter FLAATZ 330 and many more options.