Methods and system for breathing-synchronized, target-tracking radiation therapy

A method of synchronizing delivery of radiation to a target in a patient with breathing of the patient, which method comprises:

• (a) positioning the patient for delivery of radiation to a target in the patient,
• (b) either monitoring the actual breathing of the patient in real time via an external indicator of internal target motion or monitoring directly in real time the shape and/or location of the target within the patient, and
• (c) while continuing to monitor the actual breathing of the patient or the actual shape and location of the target in the patient, delivering radiation to the target in the patient according to a radiation treatment plan in view of the actual breathing of the patient or the shape and location of the target, wherein the radiation treatment plan was prepared by a method comprising:
• (i) obtaining simultaneous data on the breathing of the patient and the tracking of a target in the patient,
• wherein the data on the breathing of the patient includes frequency of breaths and amplitude of breaths and the data on the tracking of a target includes location of the target and shape of the target,
• (ii) correlating the data on the breathing of the patient and the tracking of a target in the patient and optimizing the correlation, and
• (iii) establishing optimal parameters for the radiation to be delivered to the target in the patient in view of the optimized correlation of (ii),
• whereupon delivery of radiation to a target in a patient is synchronized with breathing of the patient.