Radiation Oncology

Radiation Therapy Services

Radiation therapy treats cancer, brain tumors and other conditions with beams of radiation delivered by highly sophisticated machines or by radioactive particles.

The Temple Department of Radiation Oncology

Temple's Department of Radiation Oncology has been named a “Center of Excellence” by one of the world’s largest and most innovative manufacturers of radiation oncology devices. In addition, patients receiving radiation therapy can receive treatment and visit their physicians without leaving the building.

The Department is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and the American College of Surgeons. As an academic program, we participate in both institutional and national investigational studies, including protocols from the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and other cooperative groups.

Radiation Oncology provides world-class noninvasive radiation therapy, including:

Leksell Gamma Knife ® 4C treatment, one of the latest noninvasive treatments for cancerous and noncancerous conditions. Leksell Gamma Knife® 4C treatment can focus on previously untreatable deep-seated tumors, vascular malformations and functional disorders in the brain.

Temple is the first hospital in the region to offer a combination of both Leksell Gamma Knife® 4C and Elekta Synergy® S for stereotactic radiosurgery. Sterotactic Leksell Gamma Knife® surgery is a type of noninvasive neurosurgery that directs radiation to a specific focal point in the brain. It is precise, effective and safe. Leksell Gamma Knife® 4C surgery typically can be performed in one day as an outpatient.

Leksell Gamma Knife® 4C radiosurgery is noninvasive because it does not actually involve a "knife." Gamma KnifeDuring the procedure, hundreds of highly focused beams of cobalt radiation are delivered to precise targets in the brain. The single beams are too weak to damage healthy tissue. When they converge on the area to be treated, however, they become powerful enough to help control many previously untreatable brain tumors and other conditions.

Leksell Gamma Knife® 4C radiosurgery can treat conditions including:

  • benign or malignant brain tumors
  • vascular(blood vessel) malformations
  • trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux) and tremor.

Elekta synergy SSynergy® S linear accelerator treatment allows radiation oncologists to make immediate adjustments in the patient’s position to direct radiation precisely at the target. The Elekta Synergy® S uses precision technology to treat tumors, lesions and malformations throughout the body, as well as sites in the brain that are inaccessible to the Leksell Gamma Knife® 4C.

Other Radiation Therapy Treatment Options at Temple University Hospital
Along with standard radiation therapy that may be performed on our state-of-the-art linear accelerators, the following advanced treatment modalities are available:

  • Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT). This therapy tailors radiation beams to the shape and configuration of the tumor.
  • Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT). This treatment allows precise delivery of radiation to tumors with minimal radiation to normal tissue.
  • Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). This therapy allows precise delivery of high-dose radiation beams to tumors, giving higher doses to some parts of the tumor and lower doses wherever sensitive structures are nearby.
  • Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT). This treatment delivers high doses of tightly focused radiation with a high degree of precision to sites within the body.
  • Brachytherapy places radioactive sources into the body — temporarily or permanently -- to treat cancer. The majority of cases are gynecologic and prostate implants. For prostate cancer patients who are candidates for this treatment, brachytherapy can provide a single, same-day treatment. For gynecology patients, Temple has one of the most experienced and busiest gynecologic implant services in the region.
  • Total Skin Electron Beam Therapy (TSEB). This is a highly-specialized treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Temple University Hospital is world class in treating this disease and has designed a unique positioning device specifically for TSEB therapy.
  • Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning: The Philips ACQSIM CT offers patients the convenience of receiving their high-precision radiation treatment planning scans in the Radiation Oncology department on state-of-the-art Pinnacle workstations.

Leksell Gamma Knife® 4C and Elekta Synergy® S are registered trademarks of Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden