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Calypso
Organs such as the prostate gland naturally move during the several minutes that it takes to deliver intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Your doctor cannot predict which way or how much your organs will move. When your organs move during radiation treatments, the tumor may not get the right amount of radiation. Other nearby organs such as the bladder and rectum may receive radiation that is not meant for them during the radiation treatment. At most radiotherapy centers, “interfraction” prostate motion from one day to the next is adjusted for using 3-4 gold seeds that are permanently implanted in the prostate. However, “intrafraction” prostate motion during the actual radiation treatment is not taken into account. The Calypso® 4D Localization System™, referred to as GPS for the Body®, includes 3 tiny Beacon® electromagnetic transponders rather than gold seeds that are implanted permanently in the prostate. The transponders, which are about the size of a rice grain, help your doctor know when your prostate is not aligned with the radiation beam during treatment. If the prostate moves more than 1/13 inch (2 mm), the radiation beam is turned off. Once the prostate is back in the x-ray fields, the radiation beam is turned back on. The Calypso® 4D Localization System™ increases the dose of radiation delivered to the prostate cancer while decreasing the dose given to surrounding healthy tissues, thereby decreasing side effects. |
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