CONFORMAL RADIATION-THERAPY IN PEDIATRIC TUMORS

Radiation therapy is a key component in the multimodal management of p ediatric tumors. Although success rates are increasing steadily, delay ed morbidity remains a problem. Susceptibility is greatest for tissues with high cell turnover rates, including the tissues of children. Exp osure of normal tissues to radiation leads to growth disorders and to neurologic and neuropsychologic deficits. Conformal radiation therapy is external radiation beam therapy that is planned in such a way as to conform the prescription dose to well-defined targets, thereby sparin g normal tissues from high doses of radiation.