System and method for imaging and treatment of tumorous tissue in breasts using computed tomography and radiotherapy

A method of irradiating a portion of a body, comprising the steps of:

• providing a gantry, said gantry comprising a radiation source for generating a radiation beam and a detector spaced from the radiation source;
• providing a structure near the body, said structure provided with an opening adapted to allow a portion of the body passing therethrough;
• extending a portion of the body through the opening in the structure to expose the portion to the radiation beam;
• rotating the gantry about a horizontal axis, whereby the portion of the body is irradiated by the radiation beam and detected by the detector;
• wherein said opening includes a first portion adapted to allow a breast of a patient passing therethrough and a second portion adapted to allow tissue between the breast and an arm pit passing therethrough, said second portion extending from said first portion, and wherein the extending step includes extending the breast and the tissue passing through the first and second portions to be exposed to the radiation beam.

A system for irradiating a breast of a patient, comprising:

• a gantry comprising a radiation source for generating a radiation beam and a detector spaced from the radiation source;
• a couch spaced from said gantry;
• support attachment coupled to said couch;
• a structure coupled to said couch, said structure being positioned near the patient, and provided with an opening adapted to allow a breast passing therethrough to be exposed to the radiation beam;
• wherein said support attachment comprises two wing portions, each being adapted to support the patient in a lying position.

A system for irradiating a breast of a patient, comprising:

• a gantry comprising a radiation source for generating a radiation beam and a detector spaced from the radiation source;
• a couch spaced from said gantry, said couch being adapted to support the patient's torso in a slant position relative to a horizontal plane during irradiation;
• and
• a structure being adapted to be positioned near the patient, and provided with a first opening adapted to allow a breast passing therethrough to be exposed to the radiation beam, a second opening adapted to allow tissue between the breast and an arm pit passing therethrough to be exposed to the radiation beam, and a third opening adapted to allow an arm passing therethrough, and the second opening connecting the first and third openings,
• wherein the second opening is a slot extending from the first opening to the third opening.

An imaging system comprising:

• a radiation source;
• a detector spaced from the radiation source;
• and
• a structure near the radiation source, said structure being provided with a first opening adapted to allow a breast and a second opening adapted to allow tissue between the breast and an arm pit of a patient passing therethrough to be exposed to at least a portion of a radiation beam generated by the radiation source, said second opening extending from said first opening.

A method of imaging comprising the steps of:

• providing a system comprising a radiation source, a detector spaced from the radiation source, and a structure near the radiation source, said structure being provided with an opening adapted to allow a portion of a body passing therethrough;
• positioning the body in a slant position relative to a horizontal plane;
• exposing the portion of the body in the slant position to at least a portion of a radiation beam generated by the radiation source;
• and
• obtaining one or more images of the portion of the body using the detector.

A method of imaging comprising the steps of:

• providing a system comprising a radiation source, a detector spaced from the radiation source, and a structure near the radiation source, said structure being provided with a first opening adapted to allow a breast and a second opening adapted to allow tissue between the breast and an arm pit of a patient passing therethrough, said second opening extending from said first opening;
• exposing the breast and the tissue to at least a portion of a radiation beam generated by the radiation source;
• and
• obtaining one or more images of the breast and the tissue using the detector.