Fiducial Markers used in conjunction with Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The form of radiation used in cancer therapy is a high-energy type known as ionizing radiation that breaks up the DNA of cancer cells in a way that disrupts their growth and can even kill them. It can be used in conjunction with other cancer treatments, most commonly along with chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy may be the main treatment or may be used to assist another treatment like chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may be used to shrink the cancer before or after surgery, and also to stop the growth of any remaining cancer cells. Major objectives of radiation therapy are:
- Cure: Some cancers can be cured by radiation therapy alone or combined with other treatments
- Control: Control some cancers by making them smaller or stopping them from spreading
- Help other treatments: Can be used before or after other treatments to make them more effective
- Relieve symptoms: If cure is not possible, radiation therapy may be used to reduce cancer symptoms and improve a patient’s quality of life
Types of Radiation Therapy:
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
- Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRS)
Fiducial markers help pinpoint the tumor’s location with greater accuracy allowing the treatment team to deliver the maximum radiation dose to the tumor while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. The ability to apply radiation with greater precision ultimately results in improved patient outcomes. Fiducial markers are used for cancers such as prostate, breast, lung, liver, pancreatic, and esophageal.
BiomarC Fiducial Markers are specifically designed to assist your treatment team in achieving best results. The unique imaging characteristics of BiomarC Fiducial Markers provide excellent visualization under multiple imaging modalities to allow for the planning and delivery of the maximum radiation dose only to the targeted site.