A method and apparatus for locating an internal target region during
treatment without implanted fiducials is presented. The method comprises
producing a plurality of first images that show an internal volume
including the internal target region, then producing a live image of the
internal volume during treatment and matching this live image to one of
the plurality of first images. Since the first images show the internal
target region, matching the live image to one of the first images
identifies the position of the target region regardless of whether the
second image itself shows the position of the target region. The first
images may be any three-dimensional images such as CT scans, magnetic
resonance imaging, and ultrasound. The live image may be, for example, an
x-ray image. The invention may be used in conjunction with a real-time
sensor to track the position of the target region on a real-time basis.