Klin Onkol 2003; 16(Suppl 2003): 122-124.
Summary: Czech pediatric radiotherapy has made a considerable development during the last twenty years. At that time cobalt units with an imperfect radiation planning possibility and not very precise irradiation were used. Now we work with linear accelerators, 3D planning systems and indivudualised conformal techniques. A new department of pediatric radiotherapy, fully and up to date equipped, has been opened in the University Hospital Motol in Prague since 1997, the second pediatric radiotherapy department was established in Brno. Nowadays we use in a preparing radiation process immobilization devices, a localisation is made on a simulator, a radiation therapy planning is based on CT scans, 3D planning system, customised portal fields. The radiation therapy in the childhood is specific by its risk of important late effects. The development not only in the radiation therapy, but also in the systemic therapy and diagnostic methods may reduce this risk. We aim to cure children and at the same time to keep their quality of life.
