Radiation Medicine Program (RMP)

Quick Start Program

Magnetic Resonance guided Radiation Therapy (MRgRT)

Allan and Ruth Kerbel Palliative Radiotherapy and Oligometastases Program (PROP)

Pediatric Radiation Therapy Program

Brachytherapy Program

The Princess Margaret Brachytherapy Program delivers brachytherapy using a number of methods for both inpatients and outpatients. We can provide high-dose, slow continuous or intermittent/pulsed radiation. Slow continuous and intermittent/pulsed radiation require hospital admission, while high-dose rate techniques are done on an outpatient basis.

Brachytherapy is most effective in cancers of the prostate, cervix and uterus, as well as in esophageal, lung and penile cancer. This very effective high-dose conformal radiation approach spares healthy tissue.

The two primary methods for delivering brachytherapy are interstitial and intracavitary. Interstitial brachytherapy involves the implantation of radioactive sources directly into a tumour, usually in the form of needles, seeds or wires.

Intracavitary brachytherapy involves placing a small radiation source directly into a natural body cavity. This method is effective for delivering very localized radiation to small tumours that have not spread, or for delivering an additional dose of radiation to a small volume at high risk for recurrence.

Patients may be referred by contacting the appropriate Site Group involved with this program:

• Gastrointestinal
• Genitourinary
• Gynecologic
• Eye

Stereotactic Radiation Therapy Program

Stereotactic radiation therapy is commonly used to manage cancers within the head and increasingly in other locations in the body, such as the spine, lungs and liver. It can offer an alternative to surgery where there may be a significant likelihood of morbidity with surgery. Stereotactic radiation is also useful in increasing tumour control rates for selected patients with metastases.

In addition to the ability to precisely deliver high-dose radiation to the tumour, this type of radiation significantly spares normal tissues, significantly reducing the likelihood of acute or long-term effects.

Patients may be referred by contacting the appropriate Site Group involved with this program:

• CNS (Gamma Knife Radiosurgery)
• Gastrointestinal
• Lung

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a sophisticated radiation tool known worldwide for its precise treatment to targeted areas of the brain. Patients with benign tumours and functional conditions of the brain are treated with focused single day high dose radiotherapy treatment. The most common conditions treated include acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, trigeminal neuralgia, arteriovenous malformations, and pituitary adenomas.

In a single treatment session, 201 beams of gamma radiation can focus with a precision of less than 1 mm. The exposure is brief and only the tissue being treated receives the radiation dose, while the surrounding tissue remains unharmed.

Since Gamma Knife radiosurgery is performed without incisions or general anesthesia, many of the usual risks associated with conventional neurosurgery, such as neurological deficit, infection and bleeding, are reduced.

Patients are discharged from the Gamma Knife Centre on the day of treatment and are usually able to return to their normal activities within 72 hours.

See also: Gamma Knife Centre at UHN

Gerry and Nancy Pencer Brain Tumour Centre

This multidisciplinary program (radiation oncology, neuro-oncology) manages primary tumours of the brain and spinal cord. We use state-of-the-art linear accelerator technology, including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)/Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), with daily image guided radiotherapy to achieve high treatment precision. We lead international studies that define global standards of care for patients with glioblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumour in adults. Patients can also participate in experimental studies for initial tumour management and recurrence.

See also: Gerry and Nancy Pencer Brain Tumour Centre

Robert & Andrée Rhéaume Fitzhenry Brain Metastases Program

This multidisciplinary program (radiation oncology, neurosurgery) manages brain metastases. We treat patients with radiosurgery on the ICON Gamma Knife unit with frame-based and mask-based approaches for single or multiple day sessions. Our neurosurgery colleagues also provide patient assessments for possible surgical resection. The ICON Gamma Knife unit uses a relocatable frame instead of a rigid frame, developed by a highly specialized team at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

See also: Robert & Andrée Rhéaume Fitzhenry Brain Metastases Program​​​​