Three-Dimensional Radiation Treatment

Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Treatment (3D-CRT) is another type of internal radiation therapy. The need to prefer an internal radiation therapy over traditional external beam radiotherapy is necessary as the new methods of internal radiation makes it easier to target more precisely the tumor without damaging the other areas or healthy organs. Whereas in external beam radiotherapy, the oncologists has to go through numerous Computed Tomography scans (CT), nuclear imaging scans (NMRI) and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the worst thing about this type is that it can cause damage to the healthy organs as it is not precise enough as compared to any internal radiation therapy. One of these internal radiation therapies is 3D-CRT (Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Treatment).

Firstly, MRI, PET Scans and CT Scans of a patient is gathered, which are actually two-dimensional images, then they are put in concave-shaped or dome-shaped rotating projector. This projector is plugged into a computer, which creates projections of the images as three-dimensional holograms. Now the interesting thing about this that it doesn’t create pictorial images like we used to see in any other tests, but these light images  show characteristics like shape, location and size of the cancer tumor and also the organs which are affected.

Now to create a customized radiation beam oncologists use these tools:

Multi-leaf collimator

It is fixed to the head of the radiation machine. This either blocks or allows the radiation from penetrating the target. It will create the initial size and shape of the doorway through which radiation beams will be emitted.

Custom-fabricated

It is made by lead, which is used to prevent the flow of light. They are set around the doorway to further conform radiation beams according to the shape of the tumor.

Are there any risks?

This question must arise in your mind, and the answer is yes there are some side-effects associated with 3D-CRT.

Esophagitis

Inflammation in esophagus (it is a tube for food that runs from throat to stomach). Around two weeks after beginning of the treatment you will observe this symptom, but generally it disappears more or less 2-3 weeks after the treatment is ended.

Mucositis

Inflammation of oral mucosa (membrane of gums, throat and mouth). You will observe symptoms like thick saliva, dry mouth, sores and difficulty in swallowing and chewing. This symptom will disappear within few weeks after the end of the treatment.

Pneumonitis (Radiation)

Inflammation of the lungs. You will observe this symptom around two weeks at the beginning of the treatment. It is accompanied by the symptoms like breathlessness due to exertion, fever and dry cough. These symptoms are not permanent, but it will scar the lungs permanently.