Special Procedures

• IMRT
  Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) uses advanced radiation physics, medical imaging, and information management to deliver a radiation dose conforming to the cancer volume while avoiding adjacent critical organs. Tumors of the brain, base of the skull, head and neck, and prostate are suitable candidates for such a treatment.
  
  
• SRS
  Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) is the process of delivering a lethal dose of radiation, to a localized region of the brain where the growth is prominent. The radiation effect in this case would be like the surgeon's scalpel. It would eradicate the targeted disease and spare any other vital, sensory, or motor function area in the brain. In some cases SRS is an alternative to conventional brain surgery and at other cases, the only means to ablate inoperable lesions.
  
  Two methods of delivering SRS are available, circular collimator arcs and micromultileaf collimator. The radiation dose used in each method is equally effective, but the decision of using one method or the other is made on a case by case basis with aim to maximize the benefit to the patient.
  
  SRS is an outpatient procedure, but it is an elaborate one. It would take the patient a whole day to undergo the several steps involved; image acquisition, treatment planning, quality control, and treatment.
  
  
• SRT
  Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) employs the same technique and precision of SRS but differs in the amount of dose and dose fractionation.  It is usually indicated for relatively localized large tumors in proximity of critical structures.
  
  
• HDR Brachytheapy
  High-dose rate (HDR) Brachytherapy is an internal type of cancer treatment that allows for the insertion of a radiation source into a tumor. A computer controlled radioactive source would be driven into applicators implanted in the diseased organ. The source would be made to dwell in positions for pre-programmed dwell times in order to deliver the required dose to the cancer volume. When the radiation source is removed, no radiation remains in the patient. HDR is an outpatient procedure and has numerous applications for various anatomical areas, such as:
  
  
  • Uterus, cervix, vagina
  • Introperative radiation therapy
  • Bronchus
  • Esophagus
  • Skin lesions