Radiation Oncology at GBMC

3D Conformal Radiation Therapy: With 3D conformal radiation therapy, the treatment volume conforms to the shape of the cancer tumor or region. This conformal treatment reduces the amount of radiation to surrounding normal tissue and organs and increases the amount of radiation of the target volume. 3D conformal radiation therapy is given by directing high-energy photons beams to the cancer tumor. These high-energy photons are generated and conformed to the shape of the cancer tumor by a linear accelerator (LINAC). The LINAC delivers the high-energy photons from different angles around the patient.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): IMRT, a more advanced 3D conformal radiation therapy, conforms the high-energy photon beam to the shape of the cancer tumor and modulates the radiation intensity across the photon beam. By modulating the intensity of the high-energy photon beam, the radiation dose is delivered more precisely to the cancer tumor and normal tissue sparing is greatly increased. IMRT is able to treat cancer tumors wrapped around sensitive structures such as the spinal cord. As a result, IMRT is often the choice for head and neck cancers.

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT): IGRT delivers 3D conformal radiation therapy using real-time computed tomography (CT) imaging to maximize cancer tumor localization. IGRT accounts for the daily motion of the cancer tumor and normal tissues. CT images are acquired with the patient on the LINAC table prior to treatment. This CT study is compared with the reference CT study taken to generate the treatment plan. Appropriate position adjustments are made if the two CT studies are not aligned.

Brachytherapy: Brachytherapy uses sealed radioactive sources to deliver radiation to the cancer tumor. These sources are placed in or around the tumor using special applicators. Brachytherapy can be permanent or temporary. In permanent brachytherapy, the sources are inserted directly into the tissue. Whereas in temporary brachytherapy, the sources are removed after the desired dose has been delivered. Brachytherapy can be delivered at a low dose rate (LDR) or a high-dose rate (HDR).

Low-Dose Rate (LDR): LDR brachytherapy is used for permanent brachytherapy, often called seed implantation. Transperineal prostate implant is a common LDR brachytherapy procedure. In transperineal prostate implant, radioactive sources are implanted throughout the prostate using needles and transrectal ultrasound. Transperineal prostate implants are often an outpatient procedure. LDR brachytherapy can be used to treat head and neck cancer, genito-urinary cancer, breast cancer, and cancers affecting superficial areas of the body. These LDR brachytherapy treatments usually require overnight stays in the hospital.

High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy: HDR brachytherapy uses a single high activity iridium-192 source for temporary implants. HDR systems are capable of optimizing the dose distribution beyond what is possible with manual afterloading. Unlike LDR brachytherapy, HDR brachytherapy takes only minutes. As a result, HDR brachytherapy is usually an outpatient treatment. HDR brachytherapy can be a treatment option to treat head and neck cancer, genito-urinary cancer, breast cancer, and cancers affecting superficial areas of the body.

Radioimmunotherapy: Radioimmunotherapy is offered as a treatment option for relapsed or refractory B cell lymphoma. Radioimmunotherapy uses anti-bodies tagged with a radioisotope to treat cancer cells. In most cases this is an outpatient treatment.

Radioisotope Therapy: Systemic radioisotope therapy is offered to treat bone pain resulting from cancer spreading to the bone. The radioisotope therapy is an intravenous treatment that treats bone metastasis throughout the whole body. In most cases, it is an outpatient treatment.