The latest technology is available at North Puget Cancer Center
Pinnacle 3D Treatment Planning System Diagnostic studies and clinical information are entered into the treatment planning computer. PET/CT scan allows accurate delineation of malignant target tissue. Various treatment plans are evaluated and the most effective treatment plan chosen
Varian IX 15 MV, 6 MV, Electrons 6-20 Mev 6 MV photons used for thinner parts of the body, 15 MV photons for thicker areas of the body, i.e. pelvis.
On Board Imager Diagnostic quality KV range X-Ray images can be obtained on the linear accelerator, in treatment position, to verify the accuracy of set up.
Cone Beam CT A narrow x-ray beam on the linear accelerator can be used to verify set up by generating CT images to compare to the patients original diagnostic CT images.
IGRT Image Guided Radiation Therapy. Used to produce precise set up for organs where motion of the target area within the treatment field could be a problem. For prostate treatment, inert gold markers placed in the prostate provide reproducible 3D set up.
Respiratory Gating For tumors in the lung, the treatment is gated to respiratory motion so that the machine turns on and off as the tumor moves in and out of the treatment field. The next software upgrade will actually allow the radiation therapy field to move as the tumor moves, tracking the correct field throughout the respiratory cycle.
IMRT Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy allows delivery of precise doses to an accurate treatment volume. This means we can safely deliver higher doses, (i.e. prostate cancer), which leads to higher cure rates, with less side effects.
Multileaf Collimator These thin computer driven tungsten blades allow accurate shaping of the field to match the tumor volume. It replaces the hand blocking and custom blocking of the past. It means increased set up accuracy and decreased set up time.
GE Lightspeed 8 Slice CT Simulator Set-up for treatment begins with a CT scan of the area of the body to be treated. These images are fed directly into the treatment-planning computer, giving an accurate picture of the location of the area to be treated and all critical normal structures within the treatment field.
Interstitial Brachytherapy Small radioactive sources are implanted in tissue, designed by the time they have decayed to inactivity, to deliver the prescribed dose. Used primarily in the treatment of early stage prostate cancer.
