Respiratory Gating and Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH)

What is Respiratory Gating?

Respiratory gating is an advanced system that tracks your natural breathing cycle to deliver radiation only when the tumor is in an ideal position for treatment.

How it Works

• Tracking Movement: An infrared camera and a lightweight chest or abdomen marker monitor your breathing.
• 4D Imaging: A specialized CT scan captures tumor movement over time (the “fourth dimension”) to map precise patterns.
• Precise Timing: During treatment, the system pauses the radiation beam if irregular breathing occurs, such as during a cough or sneeze.

Patient Benefits

• Precise targeting improves tumor control
• Healthy tissues experience less radiation exposure
• Treatment is comfortable and non-invasive

What is Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH)?

Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) is a technique that protects the heart and lungs during radiation therapy, particularly for breast cancer.

How it Works

• Breath Hold: You’ll be asked to take a deep breath and hold it for about 20 seconds during treatment.
• Organ Movement: Your deep breath moves the heart and lungs out of the radiation field, lowering their exposure.
• Broader Use: DIBH is also beneficial for minimizing motion in other body sites, such as the stomach, pancreas and liver.

Why Choose DIBH?

• Reduces potential damage to the heart and lungs
• Ensures radiation targets the tumor more effectively
• Enhances safety without compromising comfort

We utilize state-of-the-art tools like the Varian® Medical RGSC Systems and Siemens 4D CT to provide respiratory gating and DIBH treatments. These technologies allow us to deliver precise radiation therapy where tumor motion would otherwise present challenges.