Several linear accelerators, the workhorses of the department, are available with x-ray beam energies ranging from 4 to 20 million electron volts (MV). These machines produce high-energy x-rays as well as electron beams for treatment. All of these machines are very complex and can be moved in an up-and-down as well as side-to-side direction. They tend to be noisy and somewhat frightening at first glance, but do not be afraid—they are very safe.

The treatments with linear accelerators are often performed based upon 3-D, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), or Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) planning techniques.

IGRT is used to precisely track a target in the body which might move during or between treatments.

The IMRT Difference
The 3-D planning allows us to treat highly specific and localized target volumes based upon information gleaned from CT, MRI, and/or PET scans. IMRT is similar to 3-D, but allows us to change the intensity of different parts of a particular beam, almost as if you could make some parts of a flashlight beam brighter than others. This specialized therapy allows us to shape our doses to very unusual contours, thus preserving nearby normal tissues.

Novalis TX

Extremely precise radiosurgery treatments can be delivered with a revolutionary new machine in the FROG arsenal called the Novalis TX. This machine incorporates a highly innovative linear accelerator with CT and digital  x-ray on-board imaging as well as a robotic couch. The flexibility of this system allows us to use IMRT, IGRT, and stereotactic radiotherapy techniques for tumors located throughout the body.  See  Novalis for more information.