I have just been diagnosed with a T1N1M0 (
HPV+) on my right tonsil tissue (I had my tonsils taken out as a kid). I had a MND on the right side of my neck in which they took out 18 lymph nodes, with one being postive. I am scheduled to undergo 33 sessions of IMRT in approximately two weeks. The dosage that they are scheduling me for are the following:
right tonsil area - 70 Gray
Left lymph nodes - 54 Gray
Right Lymph nodes - 60 Gray
Due to the size of the source and only one positive lymph, the local team is saying that I don't need chemo
A couple of questions:
1) Based on the limited information aboveiIs going with IGRT better than going with IMRT (Rapid Arc)? According to the Johns Hopkins web site they state the following "IGRT represents a further evolution of IMRT, meaning that the treatment session is delivered only after checking, on a daily basis and with the patient on the treatment table, the correct position of the target with respect to the machine. At Johns Hopkins this is done by acquiring a CT scan on the treatment table. A more precise treatment delivery implies fewer dose to the normal structures and a higher likelihood of treatment success"
My local facility has the IMRT (Rapid Arc) system so I would have to travel in order to go with a facility with an IGRT based solution.
2) Do the dosages above seem average, high or low based on the limited information above?
