Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)
The linac sweeps around the patient in one or two arcs while the beam shape, dose rate and speed all change, delivering an IMRT-quality plan in a couple of minutes.
Overview
VMAT is the arc form of intensity-modulated radiotherapy: the gantry rotates continuously while the multileaf collimator reshapes the beam and the dose rate varies, so a full treatment is delivered in one to three arcs rather than many fixed fields. Otto described the optimisation in 2008 and it became the default technique for most curative treatments within a decade. Plans match fixed-field IMRT in target coverage with shorter treatment times and fewer monitor units, at the cost of a larger low-dose bath.
How it works
Simultaneous modulation of gantry speed, dose rate and collimator leaf positions during a rotating arc, optimised by inverse planning to sculpt dose around organs at risk.
- Treatment in two to four minutes
- Highly conformal dose with steep gradients
- Fewer monitor units than fixed-field IMRT
- Larger volume receiving low doses
- Sensitive to patient motion during the arc
- Demands rigorous machine quality assurance
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"Volumetric modulated arc therapy" OR ABSTRACT:"Volumetric modulated arc therapy" OR TITLE:"VMAT" OR ABSTRACT:"VMAT") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), not a curated reading list.
Similar pages
not linked directly; found by shared links- TechnologyAdaptive radiotherapy (online replanning)
Shares GTV, CTV and PTV (target volumes), Organs at risk and dose constraints, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam) and the tag radiation-wave1.
- TechnologyIn vivo dosimetry and patient-specific quality assurance
Shares Radiotherapy treatment planning and QA software, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam) and the tag radiation-wave1.
- TechnologyKnowledge-based and automated treatment planning
Shares Radiotherapy treatment planning and QA software and the tag radiation-wave1.
- TechnologyTotal skin electron beam therapy
Shares IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam) and the tag radiation-wave1.
- TechnologyTotal body and total marrow irradiation
Shares IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam) and the tag radiation-wave1.
- TechnologyCobalt-60 teletherapy
Shares IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam) and the tag radiation-wave1.
- TechnologySuperficial and orthovoltage radiotherapy for skin cancer
Shares IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam) and the tag radiation-wave1.
- TechnologySurface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT)
Shares IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam) and the tag radiation-wave1.