Radiation Treatment Modalities

The radiation beam is tailored to the shape of the tumor in order to avoid nearby healthy tissues and organs.

High doses of tightly-focused radiation beams can destroy tiny tumors or lesions intracranially (SRS) or extracranially (SBRT) with pinpoint precision, often in just a few treatments.

IMRT allows Temple specialists to customize the shape and the intensity of the radiation. The radiation beam can not only be shaped but also modulated, giving higher doses to the tumor and lower doses wherever sensitive structures are nearby.

Temple specialists and technicians have used IMRT for nearly ten years and are highly skilled in all the complex adjustments needed to deliver safe and effective treatment.

Sophisticated tools further enhance precision by monitoring the treatment in real time to ensure that the dose is delivered as precisely as the radiation oncologist prescribes it.

When clinically appropriate, VMAT offers patients dramatically shorter treatment times than other intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) — as fast as two minutes. Faster treatments improve patient comfort by reducing the time spent on the treatment table. Since treatment times are so short, the risk of clinically significant motion is greatly reduced.

CT-based image guidance equipment mounted directly on the linear accelerators allows fine-tuned adjustments of radiation to accommodate any slight movement of the tumor during treatment.

Temple has used this technique since 2005, making us one of the most experienced IGRT centers in the region.

Placing low-dose or high-dose radiation sources inside the body, either temporarily or permanently, can boost the radiation dose to the tumor.

During brachytherapy, a small device is placed close to or inside the tumor, most often during an outpatient procedure. The device is later afterloaded with radioactive sources which remain in place for a period of time — sometimes permanently. Some patients need several sessions. Some patients may need to be hospitalized during this type of internal radiation therapy.

Patient Guide to Brachytherapy for Breast Cancer

Patient Guide to Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer

Temple has one of the most experienced and sophisticated programs in the region. Our radiation oncologists together have more than 60 years of clinical experience in delivering brachytherapy.

Heating tumor cells in combination with radiation therapy can help shrink tumors and relieve symptoms for patients who have failed prior conventional treatment, including radiation, surgery or chemotherapy. This treatment offers hope where previously there may have been limited or no options.

Hyperthermia is indicated for use in conjunction with radiation therapy to treat recurrent tumors located within a few centimeters of the surface of the body, such as tumors of the prostate or breast, head and neck, basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers and recurrent melanomas. Sarcomas in soft tissue or lymphatics may also be eligible, Hyperthermia can be delivered both superficially and interstitially.

Treatment is done on an outpatient basis and usually consists of three to five weeks of daily external radiation and two sessions of hyperthermia per week over the same time period, administered prior to the radiation. The hyperthermia treatment lasts for 45 to 60 minutes and is very well tolerated.

Patient Information about Hyperthermia

Temple's radiation oncologists have more than 20 years experienced with hyperthermia.

This treatment is directed at a large surface, or the entire surface, of the body. The radiation penetrates the outer layers of the skin without affecting deeper organs or tissue. Temple is the most experienced center in the region to offer this therapy to patients with rare cancers and conditions such as Cutaneous T-cell and Cutaneous B-cell Lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma.

During this treatment, hundreds of highly focused beams of radiation are delivered to precise targets in the brain.