Technologies |
Radiation Treatment | Request an Appointment |
There are many ways to deliver and target radiation into the body. As with other modalities, radiation delivery techniques give the physician more choices as to how best to treat and target your cancer. Depending on the type of cancer and stage, one or more methods may be used to maximize tumor reduction and minimize damage to normal healthy tissues.
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3D Conformal Radiation Therapy 3D Conformal Therapy allows us to shape the radiation beam around the tumor and control the dose of radiation throughout the process to limit exposure to normal healthy tissues. 3D Conformal treatment involves the use of CT images (computed tomography) to construct a 3-dimensional, computer-generated recreation of the internal organs and the tumor. This allows the radiation oncologist to target the treatment area while minimizing side effects. |
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Cone Beam CT
This technology gets its name from the cone-shaped beam of X-rays used to collect a complete image. Unlike conventional CT, which takes a series of thin-sliced X-ray images and then stacks them together to create a complete picture, cone beam CT produces a more sophisticated image in less time and with less X-ray exposure. Cone-beam CT is an emerging technology with many advantages over conventional CT scans, such as fast volume coverage speed, efficient use of x-ray power, and sufficient data for exact 3D image reconstruction. |
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Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) IMRT involves the use of multiple high-energy x-ray beams to target the tumor. The radiation beams are calculated in advance as part of a patient specific treatment plan to deliver precise radiation while minimizing the dose to the normal surrounding tissues. The strength of the beams can be adjusted as neccessary depending on the size, location and stage of the cancer. |
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RapidArc® Radiotherapy
RapidArc™ is a highly advanced system that targets radiation to the tumor site and completes the treatment in less time than conventional technology. The linear accelerator delivers precise doses of radiation as it rotates around the patient while the shape and intensity of the beam are simultaneously modulated. Treatment accuracy is comparable to or better than standard IMRT plans and most treatments are delivered in under two minutes. (click here for video and information) |
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Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) IGRT is radiation treatment supported by enhanced graphic targeting. By targeting the treatment area using 2 and 3-D imagery, we can achieve better patient outcomes with fewer side effects. This is particularly useful when addressing prostate, breast, lung, spine head/neck cancers and other sites in the body. The clinician can retarget the treatment area daily to overcome any movement of internal organs as well as the size and shape of the cancer site. |
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Respiratory Gating
Treating cancerous tumors, while avoiding exposure to normal healthy tissue, is the goal of radiation therapy. Respiratory Gating is a newer technology that allows the radiation treatment to be synchronized to an individual's breathing pattern, thus targeting the tumor only when it is in the best range for treatment. This is particularly important when treating lung and upper gastrointestinal tumors. By monitoring breathing through the treatment, the radiation oncologist can choose the best moment in a patient's breathing cycle to deliver the treatment. |
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