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Intensity-modulated radiation therapy for the treatment of pediatric cancer patients

Abstract

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a novel form of radiotherapy, which has the potential to reduce the amount of radiation unintentionally delivered to normal tissues while maintaining a high radiation dose to the tumor in comparison with standard radiation techniques. In adults, this technology has been implemented in a number of tumor sites, but in children it has been little used. This article will review the current studies in which IMRT has been used in children. It will also discuss possible future applications for IMRT, and anticipated problems with its use.

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Acknowledgements

This review was compiled as part of an IMRT fellowship at the Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada.

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Correspondence to Agata Rembielak.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Rembielak, A., Woo, T. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy for the treatment of pediatric cancer patients. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2, 211–217 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncponc0139

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