Application of volumetric modulated arc therapy in esophageal cancer

Abstract

Esophageal cancer is a common gastrointestinal tumor in China with high morbidity and mortality. As a new radiotherapy technique, volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is increasingly used for the treatment of esophageal cancer. VMAT can reduce the dose of endanger organs, protect the organs and reduce the side effects of radiotherapy. For esophageal cancer patients with different location and volume, VMAT can effectively improve the safety and efficiency of treatment by reducing the treatment time and improving the conformability of the target area. Combined with chemotherapy before operation, VMAT increases the chance of tumor reduction, and improves the success rate of operation. Besides, studies have shown that increasing the number of VMAT programs can improve the accuracy of target area and reduce the time of treatment. VMAT has become an important way to treat patients with esophageal cancer. Key words: Esophageal neoplasms; Volumetric modulated arc therapy