IMRT in clinical practice: The experience of center of oncology in Gliwice, Poland

The purpose of this paper is to compare 3D-CRT and IMRT treatment planning techniques to find whether doses to critical organs could be further reduced with IMRT while maintaining the planned dose to target. Computer plans of 143 patients treated in Center of Oncology - Institute in Gliwice, Poland were analyzed. Patients were divided into 3 groups: A - planned with 3D-CRT, B - planned with IMRT, and C - patients with the same stage disease and tumor site as in group B but treated with 3D-CRT. The isodose distributions within target were comparable for both techniques, but more advantageous within critical structure (nearest to target) for IMRT. Introduction of dynamic techniques into radiotherapy offers significant advantages over stationery techniques resulting in a better critical organs sparing without compromising the PTV coverage.