Conformal radiotherapy facilitates the delivery of concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy: A case of primitive neuroectodermal tumour of the chest wall

Abstract

We illustrate the principle of conformal radiotherapy by discussing the case of a patient with a primitive neuroectodermal tumour of the chest wall. Recent advances in radiotherapy planning enable precise localization of the planning target volume (PTV) and normal organs at risk of irradiation. Customized blocks are subsequently designed to produce a treatment field that 'conforms' to the PTV. The use of conformal radiotherapy (CRT) in this case facilitated the delivery of concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy by significantly reducing the volume of red marrow irradiated. The lack of acute and late toxicities was attributed to optimal exclusion of normal tissues from the treatment field, made possible by CRT.