As the director of Porter Radiation Oncology in Sarasota, Florida, Dr. Alan H. Porter treats malignant and benign tumors with targeted radiation therapy. One of the newest forms of radiation therapy employed by Dr. Alan Porter and his practice is intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).
An advanced form of radiation therapy, IMRT is ideal to address tumors located close to vital bodily structures. Before IMRT, physicians considered these tumors untreatable through radiation therapy. IMRT is useful in the treatment of cancerous tumors as well as benign tumors that present other health risks.
By employing computer-generated images, IMRT facilitates the precise delivery of controlled radiation doses while conforming to the exact shape of the tumor. In this way, it can both protect adjacent organs and reduce any negative effects.
Doctors have used IMRT to treat tumors in areas that range from the brain and spinal cord to the breast, liver, lung, pancreas, uterus, and prostate. In addition to protecting organs, it is effective at protecting important and delicate areas such as the optic nerve and the salivary glands.
