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Radiation therapy has come a long way, with new technologies helping treatment teams deliver care with greater control and precision. One of these technologies is surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT). It uses special cameras to create a picture of the patient’s body surface and monitor their position during radiation treatment. Also gives the care team an added way to see whether the patient is staying in the right position while treatment is being delivered.
For patients, the technology may raise a few simple questions. What happens during SGRT? Does it replace other imaging? And SGRT accuracy? A closer look at how the technology works can help make these questions easier to answer.
What Is Surface-Guided Radiation Therapy
Surface-guided radiation therapy SGRT is a technology used during radiation treatment to monitor a patient’s position without touching them. Special cameras create a three-dimensional picture of the patient’s outer surface. That image can then be compared with the position established during treatment planning.
The system can notice when the patient’s position changes. For example, if someone shifts slightly during treatment, the care team may be able to see that movement on the monitoring system.
SGRT does not replace the radiation treatment plan. Instead, it gives the radiation therapy team another way to check positioning and movement during treatment.
How Does SGRT Work During Radiation Treatment
The SGRT treatment process starts before the radiation is delivered. The patient’s body is positioned based on the treatment plan, and the SGRT system captures the surface of the body.
Creating a Surface Map
The cameras scan the patient’s external surface and create a reference image. This gives the treatment team a baseline for how the patient should be positioned.
Unlike an X-ray, this type of surface imaging looks at the outside of the body. It does not show internal organs or the tumor itself.
Monitoring Position During Treatment
Once treatment begins, the system can continue watching the patient’s surface. If the patient moves, the system can detect a change from the reference position.
This can be useful because even small movements can matter when a treatment plan depends on careful positioning. The radiation therapists can use the information from SGRT to check whether the patient remains in the intended position.
Supporting Treatment Accuracy
One common question is, how accurate is SGRT? The answer depends on the system being used, the treatment area, the patient’s positioning, and other clinical factors. SGRT can provide very detailed information about changes in the patient’s surface position, but it is not a replacement for every type of medical imaging.
The radiation oncology team may use SGRT along with other positioning and imaging methods when appropriate.
What Are the Benefits of SGRT
There are several reasons a radiation oncology team may use this technology. The benefits of SGRT are mainly connected to positioning, movement monitoring, and the treatment team’s ability to observe the patient during a session.
1. Real-Time Position Monitoring
One of the biggest advantages is that the patient’s position can be watched while treatment is taking place. The team does not have to rely only on how the patient was positioned at the beginning of the session.
2. Non-Contact Monitoring
SGRT uses cameras to monitor the patient’s surface. There is no need for a device to physically touch the patient simply to track their external position.
3. Movement Detection
People can move without realizing it. A small shift, change in posture, or breathing movement may affect positioning. SGRT can help the treatment team identify these changes as they happen.
4. Additional Positioning Information
SGRT gives therapists another source of information when setting up and monitoring treatment. This can be especially useful when precise positioning is part of the treatment approach.
5. May Reduce the Need for Some Imaging
In certain situations, SGRT may help reduce the need for some forms of imaging used for positioning. However, this does not mean that other imaging methods are no longer needed. The approach depends on the patient’s treatment plan and the judgment of the radiation oncology team.
Is SGRT Used for Every Radiation Therapy Patient
Not necessarily. SGRT is not automatically used for every person receiving radiation therapy.
Whether it is appropriate depends on several factors, including the treatment area, type of radiation therapy, treatment plan, patient anatomy, and the equipment available at the treatment center.
The technology may be especially helpful in situations where careful surface positioning and movement monitoring are useful. Your radiation oncology team can explain whether it has a role in your particular treatment.
SGRT vs. Traditional Radiation Therapy Positioning
When looking at SGRT vs traditional radiation therapy, it is important to understand that the two are not always competing approaches.
Traditional radiation therapy may use different forms of imaging and positioning checks to help place the patient correctly. SGRT adds surface-based monitoring that can provide real-time information about the patient’s external position.
The main difference is what the technology is looking at. SGRT monitors the patient’s surface, while other imaging methods can provide information about structures inside the body.
For that reason, SGRT is often used as part of a larger positioning and monitoring approach rather than as a complete replacement for traditional imaging.
Takeaway!
Surface-guided radiation therapy is one of the technologies used to help radiation therapy teams monitor patient positioning. By using cameras and surface imaging, SGRT can provide real-time information about movement and positioning during treatment.
The surface-guided radiation therapy benefits are mainly related to non-contact monitoring, movement detection, and giving the treatment team additional information during setup and treatment. It does not replace the need for careful treatment planning or any other type of imaging.
If SGRT is recommended as part of your radiation treatment, ask your care team how it will be used and what role it plays in your specific plan. At ROCVC, our radiation therapists and radiation oncologists can explain what to expect and why this technology may be useful for you.
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