At Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, we use many standard radiation treatments in the ongoing fight against cancer. One of the more commonly used treatments available is external beam irradiation, also known as external beam radiation therapy.
External beam irradiation uses a sophisticated electronic machine to precisely aim and fire high doses of radiation at a cancerous tumor. This machine works from outside the patient’s body and moves around the patient without actually touching them.
Our patients usually receive daily treatment sessions over the course of several weeks. At very high doses, the treatments work because the high-energy radiation rays destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Radiation treatments we offer include:
Intensity modulated radiation therapy, also known as IMRT, uses hundreds of tiny radiation micro-beams of different intensities to deliver highly focused radiation directly into a tumor. Learn more about IMRT.
IGRT or image-guided radiation therapy allows physicians to see and analyze tumors in real time, offering them unparalleled tumor control and sparing normal tissue from unnecessary radiation exposure. Read more on IGRT.
Respiratory gating treats cancerous tumors with a high dose of radiation while sparing healthy tissue. This technology synchronizes precise doses of radiation with the patient's own respiratory cycle so that radiation is delivered only when the tumor is in the treatment field. Learn about respiratory gating.
In order to maintain the exact same position each time they receive radiation treatment, patients may need body molds or other devices which make it easier for them to stay still for the duration of each treatment. Read about target motion management.
RapidArc radiotherapy technology is revolutionizing care for cancer patients. It's more precise than conventional radiotherapy and reduces what used to be a 10-15 minute treatment period down to two minutes. Learn more about Rapid Arc Radiation Therapy.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery, or SRS, is the use of a single high dose of radiation, in a very narrow beam. It delivers precisely-targeted radiation at much higher doses than traditional radiation therapy while sparing nearby organs. Learn how SRS can help cancer patients.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is used for treating tumors that are present in the body, outside the brain and spinal cord. It delivers radiation to a tumor using special equipment for positioning patients with precise accuracy. Read about SBRT here.