HUNTINGTON, N.Y. - (Business Wire) Technology to deliver high dose radiotherapy for cancer treatment has constantly been improving and physicians in continue to be faced with the difficulty of treating a moving target. Sophisticated techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have been developed to produce highly conformal beams to minimize dose to healthy tissues. However, without accounting for organ motion, the benefits of these technologies cannot be realized. Radiation Oncologists at North Shore Radiation Therapy in New York are able to account for this motion.
The introduction of image guided radiation therapy, or IGRT, has revolutionized the delivery of modern day radiotherapy for prostate cancer. IGRT combines imaging with treatment delivery to provide up to real-time of the patient's organs in the treatment position, at the time of treatment, optimizing accuracy and precision. Organs including, but not limited to the lung, prostate and bladder tend to move as much as centimeters during the course of treatment and image guidance allows the physician to target and track tumors with pinpoint precision.
There are several techniques used to achieve image guided radiation therapy for prostate cancer. For some tumors, gold markers can be placed in the tumor. The patient is imaged daily prior to each radiation treatment. This is called on board imaging, or OBI. Patients who prefer not to have markers placed can be treated with other image guided techniques such as cone beam CT scan or ultrasound. In cone beam CT, the imager is rotated around the patient to quickly acquire a high-quality, low dose 3-D image of the tumor and surrounding anatomy. These 3-D images are compared to reference images from the treatment plan. Through 3-D image matching, which can be accomplished manually or automatically, shifts are calculated and the patient is moved into position for treatment. This technique is particularly useful for treatment sites that are far away from bony landmarks.
With the third technique, an ultrasound is performed daily prior to each treatment. The images are compared with reference images and the patient is shifted accordingly.
“Image guided radiation therapy allows physicians to treat with pinpoint accuracy diseases including brain tumors, prostate cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and spine tumors, as well as many others” stated Dr. Heather Zinkin, a board certified Radiation Oncologist at North Shore Radiation Therapy.
Their facilities house state of the art technology and patients can be treated using on board imaging, cone beam CT and ultrasound for high precision therapy.
About North Shore Radiation Therapy
Since 1988, North Shore Radiation Therapy has provided premier radiation therapy services to Suffolk County. The center offers 3-D Conformal Radiation Therapy, IMRT, IGRT, SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery), RapidArc, Prostate Brachytherapy, Mammosite and Gynecological Brachytherapy. North Shore Radiation Therapy is the most experienced in prostate cancer treatment in Suffolk County. The center is staffed by board certified physicians, and highly trained clinicians with expertise in utilizing the most advanced radiation therapy technology. Located at in Huntington, and Smithtown, New York, the center is open Monday through Friday, and accepts all insurance plans. Appointments can be made by calling (631) 427-2273. You can visit the website at www.cancer-radiation.com.
North Shore Radiation Therapy
Jeffrey S. Musmacher
631-427-2273
jmusmacher@cancer-radiation.com
http://www.cancer-radiation.com
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