Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT)

What is surface guided radiation therapy?

Surface guided radiation therapy (SGRT) helps check your child’s position during radiation treatment. It uses special cameras and lights to make sure your child is in the right position and stays there during the treatment. 

SGRT uses ceiling-mounted cameras and light projectors that shine a patterned light onto your child’s skin. The cameras capture the pattern and send the information to a computer program to make a 3D model of your child’s position. The program can detect if your child moves or changes position during radiation therapy. 

Benefits of SGRT

SGRT has several benefits. It can help make radiation therapy more accurate and shorten session times. It can also reduce the need for tattoo marks, though some patients may still need them.   

SGRT cameras do not give off radiation. They help the care team make sure your child stays in the right position during treatment.

What to expect during SGRT

SGRT is painless and does not touch the body. Your child may see lights shining on their skin. The lights might make their skin look bright red or blue. 

The skin in the treated area must be bare for the cameras to work. Clothing, blankets, or other items must be removed.  

SGRT is one way your child's care team makes sure the radiation therapy gets to the right place in your child’s body. The care team may also: 

• Make small marks or tattoos on the skin 
• Use special devices to help put your child in the right position 
• Take pictures with X-rays 

SGRT is not used in all centers. It is not used for all patients. 

Talk to your care team if you have questions.   

Questions to ask the care team

• Is SGRT an option for my child’s radiation treatment?
• What are the benefits of SGRT?
• How long will my child’s SGRT session be?
• Are there any safety concerns or side effects from SGRT?
• What if my child has trouble staying still during radiation treatment?

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