Columbus Cancer Care

We use stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to treat certain brain tumors. SRS delivers a high dose of radiation in a short treatment course (one to five treatments). This technique of radiation delivery can treat an area without the need for surgery or invasive procedures. We achieve high levels of precision using 3-D computer planning and immobilization techniques. These strategies minimize radiation to healthy brain tissue, while maximizing radiation to the cancer spot(s).

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treats cancer areas in various parts of the body outside the brain, delivering high doses of radiation in a short amount of time. We must use exceptional precision because treatment volumes are typically small and complex, and they may move with normal bodily function such as breathing. Treatment is completed in one to five days rather than over several weeks. The advantages of SBRT include less treatment time, fewer effects on nearby organs and, in some cases, better cancer control rates. We commonly use SBRT for lung, spine, palliation (relieving the symptoms of incurable cancers) and some gastrointestinal cancers (liver, pancreas).

Cancers may move during the normal breathing cycle. With 4-D treatment planning, also known as “gating,” we can track tumor movement during respiration. This is especially useful for tumors in or near the lungs and diaphragm. By following the tumor motion during breathing, we can more accurately “hit a moving target,” which gives us improved accuracy and exposes less normal tissue to radiation.

Image-guided radiation therapy combines imaging — such as computed tomography (CT) scans — with radiation therapy during each treatment session. This allows your radiation therapy treatment team to confirm and track movement of the tumor at the time of treatment and make fine adjustments to your position, increasing the precision of your therapy and minimizing the risk of side effects.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a type of radiation treatment that uses advanced computer programs to calculate and deliver radiation directly to cancer. This technique has often been called “dose painting,” as the radiation can almost be painted on cancers of both simple and very complex shape. IMRT utilizes several beam angles, and the radiation dose varies in strength across the target volume. The goal of IMRT is to conform the radiation dose to the target, and to avoid or reduce exposure of healthy tissue to limit the side effects of treatment.

TomoTherapy is a form of image-guided radiation therapy that provides 3-D images before each treatment. Because of its accuracy, we use it to treat tumors that are hard to reach or next to vital organs.

This advanced radiation therapy system is known for its precision, speed and ability to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue. It will be available when the Mead Family Cancer Center opens in October 2026.