Radiation therapy, targeted


A procedure that uses computers to create a 3-dimensional picture of the tumor in order to target the tumor as accurately as possible and give it the highest possible dose of radiation while sparing normal tissue as much as possible. It is also known as 3-D conformal (or conformational) radiation therapy.

Conventional radiation therapy directs x-rays not only at the tumor but also unavoidably at nearby healthy tissue. Targeted radiation is meant to deliver a higher dose of radiation to the cancer without causing so much damage to surrounding tissues.

Targeted radiation therapy is in use to treat prostate cancer and is under study with other types of cancer including lung cancer, brain tumors and cancer of the head and neck.

Read Also:

  • Radiation, ultraviolet

    Invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. Ultraviolet radiation can burn the skin and cause skin cancer. Ultraviolet radiation is made up of three types of rays — ultraviolet A, ultraviolet B, and ultraviolet C. Although ultraviolet C is the most dangerous type of ultraviolet light in terms of […]

  • Radical dissection

    Surgical removal of not only affected tissue, but also nearby tissue that may be covertly affected.

  • Radical neck dissection

    Often called a ‘radical neck,’ a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a tumor from the neck with an additional margin of seemingly normal tissue of at least 2 cm together with the removal of the lymph nodes from the neck.

  • Radical prostatectomy

    A surgery procedure that removes the entire prostate gland plus some surrounding tissue. During the procedure the pelvic lymph nodes may also be sampled for a biopsy. The goal is to remove the cancer entirely and prevent its spread to other parts of the body.

  • Radiculopathy

    Any disease of the spinal nerve roots and spinal nerves. Radiculopathy is characterized by pain that seems to radiate from the spine, extending outward to cause symptoms away from the source of the spinal nerve root irritation. Causes of radiculopathy include deformities of the discs between the vertebrae. Patients with diabetes can be affected by […]


Disclaimer: Radiation therapy, targeted definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.