An individual radiation plan is produced for each patient on the basis of a CT scan of the region to be radiated and the neighbouring healthy organs (organs at risk).

The images show intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) of a patient with a carcinoma of the tongue root.

The therapy was planned with the help of a PET/CT examination which enabled the region requiring radiation to be defined precisely.Integration of PET/CTs or MRIs into radiation planning makes it possible to define the region requiring radiation more precisely and therefore often with less damage, particularly in cancer of the lungs, head and neck and prostate.

Basically, IMRT of tumours in the head and neck enables the parotid glands to be spared, thus helping to prevent the dry mouth often associated with therapy.