Types of Treatment

SAbR, also known as SBRT, is used to treat tumors throughout the body, excluding the brain. Because the technology is so advanced and precise, we can administer a stronger dose of radiation at a time, which means fewer treatments – usually only three to five – and very little healthy tissue receives any radiation. Through innovation and clinical testing, our department pioneered the specialty, which has allowed its safe implementation throughout the field.

IGRT uses imaging technology to ensure accuracy and precisely target tumors, while adjusting for changes in tumor position during treatment. Imaging tests are performed in the same room as the patient’s treatment, immediately prior to, during treatment, or both.

Using a state-of-the-art computer program, 3D-CRT shapes the radiation beams to match the tumor’s size and shape in three dimensions. In doing so, we’re able to precisely target the tumor with higher levels of radiation and avoid healthy surrounding tissue. This technique is often used to create a sharp difference between treated and non-treated tissue.

IMRT, a specialized form of 3D-CRT, allows us to control the intensity of the radiation beam in multiple small volumes to create precisely conformed dose distribution. The radiation beams may be re-shaped dozens or hundreds of times during treatment, resulting in radiation dose distribution that is “sculpted” in three dimensions. Rather than creating a uniform field of radiation, the radiation is delivered to precisely conform to the actual shape of the tumor, thus sparing healthy tissue.

VMAT, an advanced form of IMRT, delivers radiation while the treatment machine rotates around the patient. Continuous and coordinated changes in gantry speed, dose rate, and shape of the treatment aperture increase delivery treatment speeds two to eight times faster than conventional therapy, reducing a typical 10- to 15-minute treatment to less than one minute in some cases. Though it doesn’t reduce the total number of treatments patients require, the duration of each treatment is shorter which makes it more convenient for patients who must undergo multiple treatments. VMAT is particularly useful when delivering radiation near sensitive organs. Prostate  and  head and neck patients are often candidates for VMAT therapy.

SRS, first developed to treat brain tumors in a single dose, is a treatment where several high-dose radiation beams enter the body through various angles and intersect at the desired target, which allows for a concentrated dose to reach the tumor while limiting the radiation to nearby healthy tissues. Because of this, a one-time, high-dose application of radiation to a tumor can be used instead of multiple smaller doses typical in standard radiation treatment.

During SRS treatment, the patient lies on a couch that rotates 180 degrees for maximum targeting. SRS is used to treat brain  and  spine cancer, some  head and neck tumors,  as well as certain benign tumors and neurological conditions.