Patient Information

Radiation Therapy Techniques For Pediatric Cancers

A wide variety of radiotherapy techniques are currently used in childhood cancers. The most common is 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) which uses multiple beams to focus treatment on the target while shielding as much as possible the surrounding normal tissues.

3DCRT Treatment Plan in a Child with Stage IV Wilm's Tumor

3DCRT Treatment Plan in a Child with Stage IV Wilm’s Tumor

In some childhood tumors, it is important to deliver treatment to larger volumes. An important example is childhood medulloblastoma.  In these children, radiotherapy fields include the brain and the entire spine in order to irradiate the entire cranio-spinal axis.  Such an approach is referred to as “craniospinal” irradiation.

Cranio-spinal Irradiation in a Child with Medulloblastoma

Cranio-spinal Irradiation in a Child with Medulloblastoma

Select childhood tumors may be treated with a novel form of radiotherapy treatment planning and delivery, known as intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Unlike conventional approaches, IMRT using highly modulated beams designed using sophisticated computerized optimization planning. When cast into the patient, these modulated beams better conform the radiation dose to the shape of the tumor in 3-dimensions, further reducing the volume of normal surrounding tissues receiving high doses.

IMRT Plan in a Child with a Retroperitoneal Rhadomyosarcoma

IMRT Plan in a child with a retroperitoneal rhadomyosarcoma

Moores Cancer Center 

Learn More About Pediatric Cancers

Radiation Oncologists Who Treat Pediatric Cancers:

  • Kevin Murphy, MD
  • Arno J. Mundt, MD
  • Michelle Russell, RN
  • Beth Mooney, RN, BSN
  • Jennifer Willert, MD
  • William Roberts, MD
  • Eric Anderson, MD
  • Jenny Kim, MD
  • Michael Levy, MD
  • Hal Meltzer, MD
  • Nicholas Saenz, MD

Pediatric Cancers Publications by UCSD Radiation Oncology Faculty