• Covid-19
  • Find A Provider
  • Patient Portal (eCare)
  • Careers
  • Make a Gift
  • (330) 263-8100

Just another iHealthSpot WP03 site

Wooster Community Hospital - Health System
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Immediate Care
    • COVID-19
    • Emergency Care
    • Telehealth (WCH Virtual Visits)
    • Walk-In Care (Mt. Hope NowClinic)
    • Walk-In Care (NowClinic)
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Gift Shop
    • For Patients
      • Advance Directive
      • Estimate Cost of Care
      • Discrimination Policy
      • Financial Assistance
      • HCAP Care Assurance Application
      • Home Medical Equipment
      • Language Services
      • Medical Records
      • Pricing/Package Prices
      • Patient Care & Privacy
      • Patient Registration
      • Spiritual Care
    • For Visitors
      • Call a Patient
      • Dining Options
      • Inpatient Units
      • Visiting Hours
    • Recognize An Employee (STARS Program)
    • Send a Card
  • Services
        • Custom Services Menu Nov2021

          • View All Services
          • Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal Program
          • Emergency Care
          • Endocrinology
          • Gastroenterology
          • Health & Wellness – HealthPoint
          • Obstetrics
          • Pharmacy
          • Cancer Care Cancer Care
          • Rehabilitation Rehabilitation
          • Women's Health Women's Health
          • Behavioral Health Behavioral Health
          • Cardiovascular Care Cardiovascular Care
          • Surgery Surgery
  • Services
        • Behavioral Health Services
        • Bloomington Orthopedic Specialists
        • Cardiovascular Services – The Cardiovascular Institute
        • Cancer Care – Comprehensive Cancer Care
        • HealthPoint Chiropractic Services
        • Colonoscopy
        • Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal Program
        • Diagnostic Imaging
        • Emergency Care
        • Endocrinology
        • Endoscopy
        • ERcheckin
        • Gastroenterology
        • Health & Wellness – HealthPoint
        • Home Health Services
        • Home Helpers
        • Hospitalists
        • Internal Medicine
        • Intensive Care Unit - ICU
        • Inpatient Rehabilitation
        • Joint Center
        • Laboratory
        • Medical/Surgical Unit
        • Neurology
        • Nutrition & Diabetes
        • Obstetrics – Women’s Pavilion
        • Occupational Health/Corporate Care
        • Orthopedics
        • Outpatient Rehab – HealthPoint
        • Pain Management
        • Pharmacy
        • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
        • Progressive Care Unit - PCU
        • Pulmonary Health
        • Skilled Nursing – Transitional Care Unit
        • Sleep Medicine
        • Speech Therapy
        • Spine Surgery
        • Stroke Center
        • Surgery
        • Vascular Lab & Blood Flow Screening
        • Women’s Health – Women’s Specialty Center
        • Wound Healing Center
        • NowClinic (Walk-In Care)
  • Community
    • Amish Liaison
    • Annual Reports
    • CPR Courses
    • Community Care Network
    • Giving to WCH
    • Medical Alert Device
    • Senior Partners
    • Support Groups
    • Sustainability
    • Transportation Services
    • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Shop for a Gift
      • Volunteer Services
      • WCH Auxiliary
  • Health & Wellness
  • About Us
    • Awards
    • Blog
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • News
    • Our History
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • Providers – WCH Affiliated
    • Read Reviews
  • FIND A PROVIDER
  • PATIENT PORTAL
  • PAY BILL
  • MAKE A GIFT
Wooster Community Hospital - Health System
You are here: Home / Patient Education Article

Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

Back to Patient Education
  • Introduction
  • Treatment

Introduction

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) is a type of external beam radiation therapy for cancer that adjusts for the location (or position) of a cancer tumor throughout treatment.  Cancer tumors may move, change size, and change shape throughout the course of treatment.  IGRT uses advanced positioning technology to localize the tumor before each treatment.  Based on the daily measurements, the radiation is configured before each treatment.  In turn, the radiation is more precise, effective, and results in fewer side effects.
 
IGRT is used to reduce and destroy cancer cells from an external source of radiation.  Radiation from high-energy beams disrupts the growth of cancer cells.  Radiated cancer cells are not able to repair themselves or grow.  Radiation damages all cells, both healthy and cancerous, in the exposed area.  IGRT spares as many healthy cells as possible because it directs radiation to only a specific area, the cancer tumor.  
 
IGRT uses advanced daily imaging techniques to track and record the location of a tumor throughout treatment.  This is advantageous for several reasons.  The radiation is continually adjusted and customized to the tumor size and shape.  IGRT can deliver radiation from about any angle.  Its versatility helps to spare as much healthy tissue as possible, while delivering a precise high-dose radiation treatment.  There are various types of IGRT machines.  IGRT may be used to help treat a variety of cancers including brain, spine, prostate, thoracic, lung, breast, and head and neck cancers.  It may also be used to treat arteriovenous malformations in the brain.
Back to top

Treatment

Prior to your treatment, you will meet with your doctor for a consultation and treatment simulation.  During the simulation, your treatment area will be measured and marked.  This ensures that the radiation is delivered to the same area with each treatment.  Markings may be made on your skin with bright temporary paint or small tattoos.  Special blocks or shields may be fabricated to keep the radiation from contacting healthy tissue and shape the radiation beam for treatment.
 
Headrests, molds, casts, and other devices may be created to keep your body in position during treatment.  Sophisticated IGRT technology can adjust for small movements caused by breathing during treatment or internal processes, such as digestion.  It is common to have a computed tomography (CT) scan during simulation to help prepare the overall treatment plan.  A CT scan is a painless imaging test that simply requires that you remain motionless.
 
In the majority of cases, IGRT is an outpatient treatment.  IGRT treatments are usually delivered five days a week for three to ten weeks.  Radiation treatments may be received once or more each day.  The amount of radiation that you receive depends on many factors, such as the size, shape, type, and location of your cancer tumor.
 
Prior to each treatment, imaging tests will depict the size, shape, and location of your tumor.  Your doctor will use the information to prescribe your radiation each day.  It may take several minutes to position your body for treatment.  IGRT is painless.  You will have a microphone to communicate with the radiation therapist at all times.  In most cases, people can return to work or resume their regular activities after a treatment.
Back to top

Copyright ©  - iHealthSpot Interactive - www.iHealthSpot.com

This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.

The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.

Footer

Patient Education

Learn about common medical conditions and treatments in our interactive patient education center.

Read More

Tell us what you think!

Tell us what you think!

We’d love to hear from you! Send us your feedback and read about the experiences others have had at Wooster Community Hospital.

Leave a Review Read Reviews
  • Patients & Visitors
  • Services
  • About Us
  • Community
  • Careers
  • Telehealth
  • Locations
  • Contact Us

1761 Beall Avenue, Wooster, Ohio 44691 | Phone: (330) 263-8100

Copyright © Wooster Community Hospital. All Rights Reserved.

  • Employees/Physicians
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Discrimination Policy
  • News
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

Wooster Community Hospital (WCH) Health System offers a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient services serving the residents of Wayne County, Ohio. Our health care services include urgent care, cardiac rehabilitation, diagnostic imaging, wound healing, behavioral health services, weight loss management, emergency care, cardiovascular services, outpatient rehabilitation services, inpatient withdrawal treatments, comprehensive cancer care, women's health care, diabetic services, robotic-assisted surgery, anesthesiology, chiropractic services, colonoscopy, endocrinology, endoscopy, internal medicine, pulmonary health services, pharmacy services, orthopedics, speech therapy, sleep medicine, and oncology and infusion services.

  • Home
  • Immediate Care
    • COVID-19
    • Emergency Care
    • Telehealth (WCH Virtual Visits)
    • Walk-In Care (Mt. Hope NowClinic)
    • Walk-In Care (NowClinic)
    • Back
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Gift Shop
    • For Patients
      • Advance Directive
      • Estimate Cost of Care
      • Discrimination Policy
      • Financial Assistance
      • HCAP Care Assurance Application
      • Home Medical Equipment
      • Language Services
      • Medical Records
      • Pricing/Package Prices
      • Patient Care & Privacy
      • Patient Registration
      • Spiritual Care
      • Back
    • For Visitors
      • Call a Patient
      • Dining Options
      • Inpatient Units
      • Visiting Hours
      • Back
    • Recognize An Employee (STARS Program)
    • Send a Card
    • Back
  • Services
  • Services
    • Behavioral Health Services
    • Bloomington Orthopedic Specialists
    • Cardiovascular Services – The Cardiovascular Institute
    • Cancer Care – Comprehensive Cancer Care
    • HealthPoint Chiropractic Services
    • Colonoscopy
    • Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal Program
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Emergency Care
    • Endocrinology
    • Endoscopy
    • ERcheckin
    • Gastroenterology
    • Health & Wellness – HealthPoint
    • Home Health Services
    • Home Helpers
    • Hospitalists
    • Internal Medicine
    • Intensive Care Unit – ICU
    • Inpatient Rehabilitation
    • Joint Center
    • Laboratory
    • Medical/Surgical Unit
    • NowClinic (Walk-In Care)
    • Neurology
    • Nutrition & Diabetes
    • Obstetrics – Women’s Pavilion
    • Occupational Health/Corporate Care
    • Orthopedics
    • Outpatient Rehab – HealthPoint
    • Pain Management
    • Pharmacy
    • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
    • Progressive Care Unit – PCU
    • Pulmonary Health
    • Skilled Nursing – Transitional Care Unit
    • Sleep Medicine
    • Speech Therapy
    • Spine Surgery
    • Stroke Center
    • Surgery
    • Vascular Lab & Blood Flow Screening
    • Women’s Health – Women’s Specialty Center
    • Wound Healing Center
    • Back
  • Community
    • Amish Liaison
    • Annual Reports
    • CPR Courses
    • Community Care Network
    • Giving to WCH
    • Medical Alert Device
    • Senior Partners
    • Support Groups
    • Sustainability
    • Transportation Services
    • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Shop for a Gift
      • Volunteer Services
      • WCH Auxiliary
      • Back
    • Back
  • Health & Wellness
  • About Us
    • Awards
    • Blog
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • News
    • Our History
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • Providers – WCH Affiliated
    • Read Reviews
    • Back
  • FIND A PROVIDER
  • PATIENT PORTAL
  • PAY BILL
  • MAKE A GIFT