The high doses used in thoracic SBRT can sometimes cause adverse effects ranging from mild rib fatigue and transient esophagitis, to fatal events such as pneumonitis or hemorrhage.
Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, administers very high doses of radiation, using several beams of various intensities aimed at different angles to precisely target the tumor(s)in the lungs.
The images taken from CAT scans and MRIs are used to design a four-dimensional, customized treatment plan that determines each beam's intensity and positioning.
The goal is to deliver the highest possible dose of radiation to kill the cancer while minimizing exposure to healthy organs.
Since sarcomas often metastasize to the lungs, this treatment is an effective tool in fighting the progression of the disease.