Other Treatment Options

3-Dimensional Conformal External Beam Radiation Therapy - with or without Intensity Modulation
We often use three-dimensional conformal external beam radiation. With this type of computerized radiation, beams enter and exit specific points on the body from different angles. Some beams may be filtered to adjust the intensity of radiation delivered. This adjustment allows the radiation oncologist to concentrate the radiation in the region of the cancer, and minimize the dose to the surrounding normal organs. Intensity modulated radiation therapy may be helpful in certain cases, and is used appropriately.

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy given during surgery is called intraoperative radiation therapy. Intraoperative radiation therapy is helpful when vital normal organs are dangerously close to the tumor. During an operation, a surgeon temporarily moves the normal organs out of the way so radiation can be applied directly to the tumor. This allows your radiation oncologist to avoid exposing those organs to radiation. Intraoperative radiation can be given as external beam therapy or as brachytherapy.

Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT) or Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
Stereotactic radiation is a more complex, sophisticated version of three-dimensional conformal external beam radiation. It takes two forms: stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Stereotactic radiotherapy can be used to treat head and neck cancers of the nasopharynx, sinuses and skullbase as well as tumors of the brain. Stereotactic radiosurgery treats selected brain tumors, as well as certain benign conditions such as vascular malformations. With stereotactic radiosurgery, one large dose of radiation is delivered to an isolated area. Such a large dose of radiation can only be given to the brain using this technique. With stereotactic radiotherapy, smaller doses of radiation are given each day, over a period of time, in order to achieve maximal effectiveness.

Brachytherapy
Another type of radiation we offer is brachytherapy, in which radioactive seeds are implanted directly into the tumor or tumor bed. The radioactive implants are used to treat prostate cancers, gynecologic cancers, breast cancers, soft tissue sarcomas, eye tumors, head and neck cancers, certain lung cancers, as well as other malignancies. Brachytherapy is also used for recurrent cancers, as a way of re-treating an area that was previously irradiated. These implants involve seeds that remain in the body either permanently or temporarily (several days), to deliver the prescribed dose of radiation to the involved area.

Investigational Radiation Therapies
Several specialized types of radiation therapy are available in a limited number of facilities in the United States. These treatments are currently being studied to determine their best use. You can discuss with your radiation oncologist whether these therapies may benefit you.

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