Treatment Innovation Varian 2100SC Linear Accelerator

Medical linear accelerators are computerized machines used for delivering radiotherapy treatments. They produce highenergy X-rays for treating tumors deep within the body or highenergy electrons for more superficial lesions. The accelerating structure is located in a gantry that rotates in a plane around the patient who lies on an adjustable couch. There may also be imaging devices for localizing the target just before the treatment. The accelerators are located in specially constructed treatment rooms with thick concrete walls that shield staff and other members of the public from the X-rays that they produce. When high-energy photons or electrons strike human tissue, they damage it. However, when the radiation is delivered correctly, normal tissue can repair itself, but malignant cells cannot. The advantage of using the high-energy radiation (millions of electron volts) produced by linear accelerators is that the maximum dose deposited lies some distance below the surface of the skin. This skin-sparing effect coupled with the ability to direct many beams from different angles around the patient allows radiation oncologists to treat a deep-seated tumor to a high dose without significantly damaging the healthy tissue above it. Using these principles, radiation oncologists and physicists work collaboratively to create individualized treatment plans for each patient, optimized to kill the malignant cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue as much as possible. Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) IMRT uses a sophisticated dose calculation to design and deliver precisely targeted conformal radiation. This process involves many uniquely shaped radiation fields that are delivered to the patient using various angles and approaches. During each field of treatment, the dose delivered is contoured by the multi-leaf collimator. The collimator is a motorized device in the head of the linear accelerator that consists of a number of moving leaves that position themselves dynamically to block portions of the primary beam and create a desired shape that mirrors the profile of the tumor. Our radiation oncologists and staff physicist critically evaluate the trade-offs between avoiding normal tissues and adjusting radiation doses to the tumor. IMRT is useful in treating small, fairly stationary targets surrounded by a large volume of normal tissue and/or critical structures that are especially close to the targeted tumor.
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ICCI Clermont 1920 Don Wickham Dr., Suite 130 Clermont, FL 34711 Phone: 352.243.9709

ICCC Lady Lake 922 Rolling Acres Rd. Lady Lake, FL 32159 |

ICCC Leesburg 301 S. Lake St. Leesburg, FL 34748

www.careyoudeserve.com

Treatment Innovation Varian 2100SC Linear Accelerator

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Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) Image-guided radiation therapy is radiation treatment guided by imaging equipment, such as CT, ultrasound or stereoscopic X-rays, taken prior to treatment delivery. IGRT allows radiation to be delivered to tumors with more precision than was traditionally possible, thus increasing treatment effectiveness and minimizing side effects. One of the challenges encountered when radiation is delivered to a tumor is that the tumor can move based on the patients day-to-day position on the treatment table as well as from normal organ movement. IGRT allows us to better deliver the radiation dose directly to the cancer by using a variety of automated and tracking systems. At InterCommunity Cancer Institute, our oncologists are confident that we can provide effective external beam radiotherapy with fewer side effects for your patient. For more information about brachytherapy and other treatment technologies, or to refer your patient to ICCI, call 352.243.9709.

ICCI Clermont 1920 Don Wickham Dr., Suite 130 Clermont, FL 34711 Phone: 352.243.9709

ICCC Lady Lake 922 Rolling Acres Rd. Lady Lake, FL 32159 |

ICCC Leesburg 301 S. Lake St. Leesburg, FL 34748

www.careyoudeserve.com