Radiation Treatment Technologies
There are many different ways to target and deliver radiation to a tumor volume. By using different techniques, the physician is able to create a plan that will best treat your cancer. One or more methods may be used to maximize the reduction of the tumor and minimize the damage to normal healthy tissues.
CT Scanning and Simulation
CT Scanning is used to map the organs and structures within the body. When a treatment plan is developed, a CT Simulation is necessary to acquire measurements and other technical data. The patient is positioned on the CT scanner table where multiple scans are performed to generate a digital 3D reconstruction of the tumor area. To ensure the patient’s exact position is reproducible for treatment, the CT technologist will create customized patient positioning devices as recommended by the Radiation Oncologist that will be used in daily treatment set-up. The information collected during simulation helps the radiation oncologist and other staff prepare and deliver the radiation precisely to the targeted area. This process is done solely for the purpose of generating a specialized plan for each patient. It is not used for diagnostic purposes, as at this point, the diagnosis has already been made. Therefore, no report will be generated or presented to the patient.
3D Conformal Therapy
3D (Three dimensional) conformal radiation therapy is a technique where the beams of radiation used in treatment are shaped to match the tumor. Previously, radiation treatment matched the height and width of the tumor, meaning that healthy tissue had to be exposed to the beams. Advances in imaging technology make it possible to locate the tumor precisely. Conformal radiation therapy uses the targeting information to focus precisely on the tumor while minimizing damage to the healthy surrounding tissue. This exact targeting makes it possible to use higher levels of radiation in treatment, which are more effective in shrinking and killing tumors.
IMRT
IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) 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 necessary depending on the size, location and stage of the cancer.
IGRT
Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) is the use of frequent imaging during a course of radiation therapy to improve the precision and accuracy of the delivery of treatment.
In IGRT, machines that deliver radiation, such as a linear accelerator, are equipped with imaging technology so that the physician can image the tumor immediately before or even during the time radiation is delivered, while the patient is positioned on the treatment table. Using specialized computer software, these images are then compared to the images taken during simulation. Any necessary adjustments are then made to the patient's position and/or radiation beams in order to more precisely target radiation at the tumor and avoid healthy surrounding tissue.
Radiotherapy
The Radiotherapy we use delivers a highly precise treatment much faster than conventional technologies. Treatments that once took 10-30 minutes can sometimes be accomplished in as little as a single rotation of the machine around the patient. Most treatments are delivered in less than 2 minutes!
The positive result for the patient is a faster treatment time and less scattering of the radiation outside the tumor into healthy tissue.
SBRT
SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy) is a high-dose treatment designed to deliver radiation therapy with pinpoint accuracy to select cancers in the body, typically in three to five sessions over the course of one to two weeks. With SBRT the physician can take into account the movement of a tumor based on a patient’s breathing pattern. SBRT is an effective alternative to invasive surgery for some cases, especially for tumors located close to vital structures that have been deemed inoperable. SBRT also permits re-treatment of cancer recurrence involving previously irradiated tumor sites.
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, targeting the tumor only when it is in the best range for treatment. In certain locations of the body, such as the lungs and upper gastrointestinal tract, motion caused by breathing leads to significant movement of your tumor and critical organs. By monitoring breathing through the treatment, the radiation oncologist can choose the best moment in a patient's breathing cycle to deliver the treatment. At Sparks Radiation Treatment Center, we use this advanced technology that tracks your breathing, as well as the location of your tumor, allowing us to target the tumor accurately and precisely.