External Beam Radiation Therapy
External beam therapy is a method for delivering a beam of high-energy x-rays to a tumor. The beam is generated by a linear accelerator and is targeted at the tumor site. These high energy x-rays can deposit their dose to the area of the tumor to destroy the cancer cells and, with careful treatment planning, spare the surrounding normal tissues.
Willis-Knighton performs External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) using several different machines. Our newest, state of the art technology Elekta Versa HD linear accelerators were purchased in 2016. The Elekta Versa HD system offers the latest linear accelerator technology to provide lower radiation doses to protect healthy organs. EBRT is also performed using TomoTherapy, which is CT guided Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). This allows for not only accurate tumor targeting, but delivers even less radiation to healthy tissues in particularly sensitive regions of the body. Willis-Knighton's radiation oncologists are nationally and internationally known as leaders in the use of TomoTherapy.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
Our Elekta Versa HD also employs a frameless mask and fixation system for radiosurgery which ensures a patient-friendly treatment without compromising accuracy for Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS). SRS is a non-surgical type of radiation therapy used to treat tumors and abnormalities of the brain. Conventional radiosurgery systems require invasive frame-based masks to immobilize the patient for their daily treatments.
When the SRS is used to treat body tumors, it is called Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT). SRS and SBRT can be alternatives to invasive surgery, this technology allows your physician to deliver precisely-targeted radiation at much higher dose in a single or few treatments compared to traditional radiation therapy.