What is three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Radiotherapy is the main treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In recent years, radiotherapy technology for nasopharyngeal carcinoma has become increasingly advanced, and a new type of radiotherapy, three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, has been increasingly widely used in clinical practice.

Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy uses precise fixation and positioning technology to adjust the distribution of dose intensity within the radiation field so that the high-dose area is basically consistent with the tumor shape in the three-dimensional direction. This is beneficial to improve the dose of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumor target area and improve the efficacy, while minimizing the dose of surrounding normal tissues and important organs and reducing the occurrence of radiotherapy-related complications. While implementing three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, doctors will also provide patients with relevant health education, so that patients can realize that they are not only the recipients of treatment, but also the executors and evaluators of treatment, which improves the patients' ability to consciously participate and self-care, and also helps to eliminate the patients' fear, suspicion, anxiety and despair.

The first step in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy is to make a mask. At this time, the patient lies in a supine position, rests his head on a fixed frame, tilts his head back so that the mandible is perpendicular to the bed surface, and fixes it with a thermoplastic mask.

The second step is to determine the tumor target volume and the planned target volume. Doctors need to outline the tumor target volume (GTV), clinical target volume (CTV) and planned target volume (PTV) as well as organs at risk such as the brainstem, spinal cord, and parotid gland in the three-dimensional treatment planning system based on the images collected by CT simulation.