Services

TomotherapyRadiation Oncology

Long Island Radiation Therapy (LIRT), a division of NRAD, is equipped with an armamentarium of the most sophisticated and powerful state-of-the-art equipment to treat virtually every kind of cancer or malignancy. Our Linear Accelerators and Radiation Therapy Planning Systems ensure the most precise planning and delivery of radiation therapy treatment for virtually every type of tumor.

TOMOTHERAPY - We are pleased to offer two highly sophisticated Tomotherapy Hi-Art LINAC (linear accelerator) Units providing our patients with the utmost in technology, geographic convenience and flexibility.

TOMOTHERAPY LINACS (Tomotherapy Linear Accelerators) are designed to perform both IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) and IGRT (Image Guided Radiation Therapy).

  • A built-in CT scanner provides CT guidance for each treatment, to align not only bony anatomy but soft tissue anatomy (e.g. the prostate or a lung tumor) ensuring precise delivery of radiation before any treatment is given (IGRT).
  • The Linear Accelerator, which delivers the photon beam treatment, rotates around the patient as the patient is moving into the beam, which simplifies treatment of long radiation fields.
  • Continuous modulation of the beam permits very flexible dose delivery, minimizing dose to critical organs such as spine and optic nerves (IMRT).
  • Tomotherapy can treat multiple tumors at once, without having to repeat the initial patient setup for each tumor and, remarkably, can deliver different doses simultaneously to different tumors.
  • Inverse Planning capability ensures critical organ dose limitations will not be exceeded, while still delivering the required dose to the targeted tumor.
  • Continuous CT Monitoring assesses tumor response to radiation therapy. Treatment planning is quickly readjusted to account for decreasing tumor size and change in shape in response to radiation treatment.

Varian RapidArcVARIAN RAPIDARC – The newest in the Varian line of LINACs, the RapidArc is equipped for both IMRT and IGRT, and also has a full range of electrons. This LINAC has both the superior capability and range to fulfill all radiation therapy needs from superficial skin treatment to complex treatment for virtually any tumor.

  • The rapidity of treatment makes this LINAC ideal for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), achieving the safe delivery of multiple (2-6) large doses of radiation for lung, liver and paraspinal tumors.
  • The VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy) technique is designed to treat the entire tumor in a single 360 degree rotation.
  • Built in Cone Beam CT scanning delivers both IGRT and IMRT and allows for shorter treatment time, while improving the flexibility and conformality of dose distribution.

SIEMENS PRIMUS LINAC – The Siemens Linac is a dual energy LINAC with a full range of electrons and, on-board kv imaging, providing a reliable option for all types of standard radiation treatments. Equipped with Exac-Trac, it provides IGRT and IMRT capability as well as electrons for treatment of superficial tumors.

BRACHYTHERAPY – NRAD/LIRT physicians are very experienced in the use of brachytherapy in the treatment of a wide variety of tumors. Brachytherapy involves the implanting of radioactive sources directly into a tumor. The sources can be placed permanently, such as prostate implants, or can be placed temporarily, such as in breast brachytherapy using Contura or Mammosite balloon applicators. These can give a full course of partial breast radiation in just 5 days as an outpatient. Skin applicators can also be used to give superficial doses of radiation to skin cancers, while at the same time minimizing the dose to deeper underlying tissues.

4-D PLANNING AND TREATMENT – NRAD now has the capability of dynamic treatment planning, accounting for the movement of certain tumors during respiration.

  • This is especially valuable in the treatment of lung and abdominal cancers and utilizes the sophisticated General Electric 4-D Planning System.

4-D Planning not only increases targeting accuracy, but also decreases the radiation dose to surrounding normal tissue. The tumor alone thereby receives a safe increase in targeted dose.