Thymus cancer treatment with radiotherapy

Radiotherapy for thymus cancer brings many challenges for radiation oncologists and, at the same time, remains an excellent and effective treatment method. The main issue is related to the anatomical features of the thymus, which is tightly surrounded by vital organs, including the heart, aorta, and others. So, the main task is to conduct the treatment in a way that will be effective against the tumor and won’t harm any of the nearest vital organs. Thankfully, modern radiation oncologists got a few methods with a high level of accuracy that can deliver sufficient amounts of exposure to impact thymus tumors. Among them are medical linear accelerators and other highly-accurate radiotherapy and radiosurgery apparatuses. To achieve the best possible outcomes and avoid any possible harm, the patient must go over a chest CT scan and further 3D radiation planning procedures. The patient is fixated on the table and prepares for the next part of the procedure. The head of the radiotherapy machine is programmed to move in a way that will guarantee to impact the tumor while avoiding any other patient’s vital organs. A single treatment session usually takes up to 40-60 seconds. Usually, the patient might require up to 20-30 procedures in a single radiotherapy treatment course.