3D Visualizations of Tumors

Medical physicists at Rush University Medical Center are using a new technology to help give radiation treatment to cancer patients. This new technology is a 3D visualization of tumors. The machine is called the 'Perspectra.' Currently, doctors giving radiation treatment have to look at many still images and try to piece together a puzzle of where the tumor is located. Doctors seeing the tumors in 3D give two main benefits. The first benefit is doctors can develop a better plan for attacking the tumor with respect to orientation of the radiation beam. The second benefit would be that they would be able to do develop such a method of attack more quickly. The goal of the machine is to target the radiation beams on tumors alone while trying to avoid the surrounding tissues.

Basically, the machine works by displaying 3D holographic images from MRI, CT scans, PET, and X-rays in a 24-inch dome. The 2D images are transferred from a computer to the machine where the information is processed and sent upward to the dome. The information bounces off three mirrors and reflects onto a rotating projection screen inside the dome. Currently, only three medical centers in America have this technology since it is relatively new.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007-01-08/