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External Beam Radiation Therapy

External beam radiation therapy uses a machine called a linear accelerator to deliver radiation from outside the body to the area inside the body affected by cancer. External beam radiation therapy is usually given in daily outpatient treatment sessions over the course of several weeks.

• Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT)

  3D-CRT uses computer technology to precisely target tumors in three dimensions (width, height and depth). Before treatment, a three-dimensional image of the tumor is produced, and then special computer programs use the image to program the radiation beams to "conform" to the shape of the tumor. Higher doses of radiation can be used because the normal tissues surrounding the tumor are largely avoided. 3D-CRT permits the treatment of tumors that might be considered too close to vital organs to treat with conventional radiation therapy.

• Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

  IGRT is used to treat tumors in parts of the body that naturally move during the breathing cycle, such as the lung or liver. IGRT technology allows doctors to visually locate the tumor before each treatment while the patient is in the treatment position, monitor it during treatment, and adjust for changes in tumor position between and within treatment sessions. This reduces the effects of motion and minimizes the amount of healthy tissue exposed to radiation during treatment.

• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

  IMRT allows doctors to customize the radiation dose by modulating, or varying, the amount of radiation given to different parts of the treatment area. This modulation is done in highly accurate, three-dimensional detail, according to the shape, size, and location of the tumor. IMRT uses a linear accelerator equipped with a multi-leaf collimator to shape the radiation beams and vary their intensity. This allows the radiation to be very precisely targeted to the tumor or area at risk, while minimizing the radiation to normal surrounding organs.

• Total Body Irradiation (TBI)

  TBI is radiation given to the entire body at once. It can be used in preparation for bone-marrow or blood-stem-cell transplants, or as part of high-dose radiation treatment for leukemia and lymphoma. TBI may follow a course of chemotherapy or come before it, depending on the circumstances. The goal of TBI is to kill any remaining cancer cells in the body, to destroy bone marrow that might harbor cancer cells in preparation for a bone marrow transplant, and to suppress the patient's immune system so that the transplanted tissue is not rejected.

• Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)

  APBI is a new technique by which only part of the normal breast receives radiation therapy. This allows the treatment to begin over a shorter period of time (one week instead of the typical six weeks). In addition to being more convenient, APBI gives a lower dose to surrounding normal tissues (heart and lung). Trials are currently ongoing nationwide to determine the long-term efficacy and safety of this technique.