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Treatment Machines


Most radiotherapy is delivered with linear accelerators. Our linear accelerators, or "Linacs" as they are often called, are large and can be quite intimidating at first, but they are safe and reliable. You do not actually feel the radiation given for your treatment, just like you do not feel the radiation used for a regular diagnostic x-ray.

Photo - Clinac 21iX
The Varian Clinac 21iX offers Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
We have two linacs in use at this time. Both are Varian machines: A Varian 21iX with OBI (On Board Imaging) and Respiratory Gating, and a Varian 6EX. The 21iX machine has IGRT (Image-Guided Radiation Therapy) and IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) capabilities, using 6MV and 18MV photons, as well as a full range of electrons. The 6EX machine uses 6MV photons for IMRT as well as conventional radiation therapy. We also have a lower-energy, "orthovoltage" machine that is used for the treatment of some skin cancers and some early rectal cancers.

For temporary implants (high dose-rate brachytherapy), we use a Nucletron microselectron HDR. This technology is most often used for the treatment of gynecologic (female reproductive system) tumors, but it is occasionally incorporated into the treatment of other cancers, as well.

Treatment planning is accomplished with a Nucletron Simulix Simulator, (a specially designed diagnostic x-ray unit) and several treatment planning system computers.