Image-Guidance Improvement

Metastasis is the movement of malignant cells from one part of the body to another non-adjacent part or organ. Malignant cells are the only type of cell with this capability, but there are certain malignancies that will never metastasize, such as Basal cell carcinoma and Glioma. Metastasis occurs when the cancer cells of the primary tumor break away and enter the blood vessels or the lymphatic system to travel to another part of the body. They then settle there and begin to grow within normal body tissues. The new growth is referred to as a ‘secondary’ tumor.

Metastatic cancers are extremely hard to treat. Recently, there have been big improvements in the methods used for treating these cancers.  Dr. Michael Greenberg of the Hughes Cancer Center in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, has been using the advances in image-guidance devices to treat many different kinds of metastatic diseases. Radiation Therapy can be given to one spot in the body only once, but the patient can receive treatment to several other areas over the course of their life. By using the latest IRG technology, Dr. Greenberg and other doctors can train the radiation beam directly on the tumor itself.

IRG technology has made great strides for those dealing with metastatic cancer that has settled in the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys, and move with breathing patterns. They also can shift during treatments. Image-guidance devices allow doctors to time the radiation beam to fit the breathing cycle of patients.