Final answer:
Thermal ablation using External Beam Therapy (EBT) is a procedure that employs high-energy radiation beams to target and eliminate cancerous tissue in the airways, using three-dimensional mapping and precise beam alignment to focus treatment on the tumor while sparing healthy tissue.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thermal ablation of an endobronchial lesion involves the use of heat to destroy abnormal tissue in the airways of the lungs. This technique is applied when treating conditions like cancer where a focused beam of radiation is required to target and kill the unhealthy cells. The process is generally executed using sophisticated technology like External Beam Therapy (EBT), which precisely delivers high-energy radiation beams to the site of the tumor while sparing the surrounding healthy cells.
EBT involves careful planning where the patient is first mapped three-dimensionally using CT scans and x-rays. Then, small tattoos are made to help align the radiation beams accurately using alignment lasers. The therapy makes use of a linear accelerator to generate the beam. It is critical for the beams to intersect only at the tumor location, ensuring that the maximum dose of radiation is administered there, minimizing damage to other tissues. EBT is versatile and can be used to treat various diseases beyond endobronchial tumors, highlighting its importance in oncology.