Radiation Oncology

Radiation oncology is the treatment of cancer with radiation. Treatment is localized to the tumor site and surrounding margins. Precision is accomplished through computerized treatment planning which identifies the target area from CT scans and/or other imaging modalities. Radiation beams are directed at the target site, and doses are calculated to meet the prescription.

Radiation may be delivered from an external source, which is normally a linear accelerator, or from internal sources implanted in the patient - this is called brachytherapy. The radiation oncology team includes the medical physicist, the radiation oncologist, the medical dosimetrist, the radiation therapist, and other nursing and support personnel.

Developments in the field of radiation oncology have improved the localization and delivery of radiation in a highly precise manner. Some of these developments include intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and image guided radiotherapy (IGRT).