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Hey Esther,
Since I'm also trying to keep up with all the rad options, this is what I found available locally, described in general terms... and talk about a bit confusing!
here goes:
Radiation Therapies
Radiation therapy is administered either externally or internally. External radiation therapy is usually given during outpatient visits using a linear accelerator, a machine that directs the high-energy rays or particles at the cancer and the normal tissue surrounding it. Internal radiation, often called brachytherapy, uses a radioactive source sealed in applicators, which are placed directly into a tumor or body cavity.
Brachytherapy
This procedure applies radiation internally by placing a radioactive source very near or in the tumor itself, while sparing the normal tissue and surrounding organs. Brachytherapy delivers a higher dose of radiation to help destroy the main mass of tumor cells in a more concentrated fashion.
Endocavitary Radiation (ECR)
This form of therapy is a specialized method of delivering a very large dose of radiation therapy to a very small volume of tissue in a cavity of the body. This specialized equipment is used for early stage colorectal cancer.
External Beam Radiation Therapy
This is a type of therapy that uses a beam of radiation created by the linear accelerator and targeted at the tumor. The machine produces ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells in the tumor and surrounding region.
High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy
This form of therapy uses computer planning and a network of catheters inserted in the tumor to deliver radiation to specific sites. The concentrated radiation remains at each site for a few seconds, minimizing radiation to surrounding healthy tissue. HDR brachytherapy is often used for treatment of gynelogical cancers and can be delivered in an outpatient basis, allowing the patient to go home immediately following the treatment.
Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
Image-guided radiation therapy is performed by a linear accelerator equipped with an on-board imager (OBI). This new technology is designed to improve the precision and effectiveness of cancer treatments by giving doctors the ability to target and track tumors more accurately. An automated system for IGRT, the OBI enables clinicians to obtain high-resolution three-dimensional images to pinpoint tumor sites, adjust patient positioning when necessary and complete a treatment, all within the standard treatment time slot.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
In this form of treatment, the radiation is broken up into hundreds of tiny pencil-thin radiation beams. The beams enter the body from many angles and intersect on the cancer. IMRT provides a high dosage to the tumor and a lower dose to the surrounding healthy tissues. With the radiation intensity altered, the doses are spread over the tumor for the desired concentration.
Prostate Seed Implant Therapy
This is a form of brachytherapy that uses permanently implanted radioactive seeds to treat prostate cancer. The seeds damage the cancer cells so the tumors die as they try to grow and reproduce.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
This new technology allows precise delivery of high does of radiation to the tumor, while maximally sparing adjacent normal tissues. SBRT requires special equipment to accurately verify position of the patient and location of the tumor. This equipment also takes into account normal respiratory activity and rapidly delivers treatment. SBRT is an outpatient, non-invasive procedure. Radiation treatments are delivered in large doses over one to five treatment days. SBRT can potentially be used in cases of lung cancer, liver metastases, and kidney and pancreatic cancers, among others.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
This is a one-time, nonsurgical procedure that administers precise, high doses of radiation to cranial abnormalities. Specially adapted external radiation equipment deliver a single, highly concentrated dose of radiation. Stereotactic radiosurgery uses computer imaging to precisely locate the lesion in three dimensions.
Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT)
This treatment method delivers radiation to tumors over a period of time, reducing radiation exposure of nearby structures. Stereotactic radiotherapy uses a 3-D grid system to map where therapy will be directed and the patient receives multiple doses of radiation spread over several weeks. The procedure is important for treating lesions near sensitive tissues.
Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3-D CRT)
This treatment identifies in three-dimensions the tumor and surrounding normal tissues and customizes the radiation beams. 3-D CRT conforms to the shape of the tumor and uses 3-D treatment planning computer and CT scans to focus in on tumors. Tumors are treated with a high dose, while surrounding tissue receives a lower dose.
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