What improvement is achieved by using a conformal treatment in radiation therapy?

Using a conformal treatment in radiation therapy primarily leads to improved tumor control. This technique involves the precise shaping of radiation beams to match the three-dimensional shape of the tumor, allowing for higher doses of radiation to be delivered directly to the tumor while minimizing the exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. This targeted approach enhances the effectiveness of the treatment against the tumor and reduces the likelihood of treatment failure.

The precision of conformal radiation therapy enhances the overall treatment efficacy by allowing clinicians to exploit the radio-sensitivity of cancer cells while protecting normal cells as much as possible. The ability to deliver a more concentrated dose to the tumor increases the likelihood of eradicating cancerous cells, leading to improved outcomes compared to less targeted methods of radiation delivery.