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Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) is a commonly used technique to ensure the treatment accuracy in the management of pediatric tumors, according to a new study.

The study added that in order to guide clinical decisions on the use of IGRT, a consensus recommendation is needed. 

IGRT is typically performed in the treatment room prior to radiation delivery. It improves the localization of the target and normal structures, which helps allow for more precise and accurate radiation delivery. 

"This study draws attention to the common consensus that the use of low-dose CT scans for image guidance for children is important for quality treatment and to ensure treatment accuracy," said Stephanie A. Terezakis, MD, co-author of the study and assistant professor of radiation oncology and molecular radiation sciences at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore, in the press release.

"There was variation in the way the physicians at the consortium institutions were determining the treatment field, particularly in different sites of the body. This data provides us with valuable treatment patterns that can help us determine a standard or best practice that all institutions can apply for the same technique, which will improve the quality of care for children."

The study is published in the journal Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO).