Treatment Technology
The Institute for Advanced Radiation Oncology offers a full spectrum of highly advanced technology in the delivery of high-precision radiotherapy that is dramatically helping cancer patients recover faster and with fewer side effects.
TomoTherapy
TomoTherapy is a revolutionary way to treat cancer with radiation that was introduced to central New Jersey by Monmouth Medical Center's Institute for Advanced Radiation Oncology.
To locate the tumor, TomoTherapy uses 3-D imaging from computerized tomography (CT scanning), which gives physicians the ability to confirm its shape and position before therapy begin.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy:
Gaining Global Recognition for 3-D Conformal Radiotherapy
IMRT involves the manipulation of radiation beams through advanced computer-controlled technology to change the intensity of the beam profile around both tumor and normal tissues.
Image Guided Radiation Therapy:
Reaching a New Level of Targeted Precision
The Institute for Advanced Radiation Oncology’s introduction of the Oncor Avant-Garde Linear Accelerator served as the springboard that elevated it to the next level of radiotherapy advancement: Monmouth became the first hospital in New Jersey to introduce “cone-beam” image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) — a breakthrough technology that uses images obtained from various scanning systems to precisely target the treatment site. Through real time image-guided radiation therapy, this advanced system allows radiation oncologists to “see before they treat,” offering unparalleled tumor targeting and normal tissue sparing.
Brachytherapy:
Advancing a New Dimension in Radiation Implant Treatment
Request an Appointment for Brachytherapy Treatment
Monmouth Medical Center continues to be the region’s leader in offering internal radiation therapy, which involves the placement of the radioactive substance directly in or in close proximity to the cancer site.
Internal radiation therapy places the source of the high-energy rays as close as possible to the cancer cells so that fewer normal cells are exposed to radiation. Additionally, a higher total dose of radiation can be delivered in a shorter time, compared to external treatment.
How Brachytherapy Works
There are two types of brachtherapy:
- High-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is used for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, as well as for certain types of breast, gynecologic, lung, head and neck and extremity cancers.
- Low-dose rate (permanent seed) brachytherapy involves the placement of low-energy radiation seeds— in contrast to HDR brachytherapy. The treatment has shown much success in the treatment of early stage prostate cancer.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery:
Treating Brain Tumors without Conventional Surgery
Stereotactic radiosurgery is a highly precise neurosurgical technique for the treatment of both benign and malignant tumors of the brain, as well as other abnormalities and functional disorders. Unlike traditional surgical procedures, stereotactic radiosurgery does not remove the tumor. However, because is has such a dramatic effect in the target zone in just a single treatment session, the changes are considered “surgical.”