TECHNOLOGY

VARIAN Trilogy

The Department of Radiation Oncology has one Varian Trilogy accelarator with On Board Imaging (OBI) and RapidArc® capabilities, one Varian 2300EX accelerator with Brain Lab imaging capabilities for Image Guided Radio Therapy (IGRT), and one Varian 2100CD. All are equipped with MLC and routinely used for IMRT treatments. IMRT has been delivered by our department at the UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center since 1999.

As part of external beam radiation therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, the department now offers a way to monitor the tumor location during treatment. The (Calypso®) 4D Localization System is referred to as GPS for the Body® and is available at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.  This system enables physicians to focus the delivery of radiation to the tumor while minimizing damage to the healthy surrounding tissues.

Furthermore, the Department is planning to install an Accuray® CyberKnife Stereotactic unit in the fall of 2009. This will give the department the capabilities for Stereotactic treatment to any part of the body.

Treatment planning is carried out using one of 6 ADAC Pinnacle workstations, a Corvus workstation, and 2 Varian Eclipse treatment planning stations with another 4 coming in July of 2009.

Simulation is performed with a Siemens CT or a Varian Ximatron simulator. A PET scanner with CT capabilities is also available at the Department.

Siemens CT

Brachytherapy is performed with Cs-137 or the Variseed Ultrasound probe. The Microselection Ir-192 is often used for High Dose Rate brachytherapy. Treatment of ocular melanoma and other eye tumors is performed with I-125 eye plaques at Bascom-Palmer Eye Institute.