Body immobilization
For radiation therapy to be successful, the patient must be in
exactly the same position with respect to the radiation beam during every
treatment session. Precise patient positioning is achieved by carefully
comparing x-ray images of the patient in the treatment position. To prevent the
patient from moving during imaging and treatment, the patient must be
immobilized.
Patients who will lie down during treatment are fitted for whole-body immobilization devices. Preparing the custom device, which will be used later for all treatments, takes about 30 minutes. The patient lies in a mold lined with plastic and insulating material. Liquid foam is poured between the layers of plastic and insulating materal, and the foam conforms to the shape of the patient's body. The foam then changes from a liquid to a solid; when the reaction is finished, a mold of the patient has been created.
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