NewYork-Presbyterian. The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell.

Brachytherapy. In this type of radiotherapy, a radioactive source is placed inside the body. In some cases, low-dose brachytherapy is delivered in the form of radioactive "seeds" that are placed into or near cancerous tissue to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation over days or months. In other cases, high dose brachytherapy uses computer guidance to precisely deliver a highly radioactive source into the target area over the course of a few minutes, after which the source is removed. Brachytherapy is widely used in the treatment of a variety of cancers, notably cancers of the prostate, breast, cervix, lung, head and neck, digestive tract, and in the treatment of some brain tumors and soft tissue sarcomas.

External beam radiation. This modality uses a beam of radiation to treat solid tumors, such as breast tumors, head and neck lesions, spinal cord tumors, and prostate cancer.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery. This non-invasive treatment uses beams of radiation to treat target areas safely, effectively, and without any incisions. The stereotactic approach can be used as both a single dose radiation treatment (stereotactic radiosurgery), or as multiple smaller doses of precisely placed treatment (stereotactic radiotherapy). Stereotactic radiosurgery is especially helpful in treatment of tumors in areas that are not easily accessible using traditional surgical approaches, such as malignant brain tumors, recurrent brain tumors, meningiomas, orbital tumors, arteriovenous malformations (AVM's), acoustic neuromas, and other cranial nerve neuromas, metastatic tumors to the brain, pituitary tumors, and brain stem tumors.
Gamma Knife Radiation

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is one of only 100 sites worldwide to have this 20-ton radiosurgery system, which is used in the treatment of vascular malformations, tumors, and other lesions of the brain and head. Gamma knife technology is non-invasive and virtually painless; it allows for the highest level of precision in positioning radiosurgical beams, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue and increasing effectiveness. Unlike traditional open skull procedures, which can require several days in the hospital and weeks or months of recuperation, patients treated with the gamma knife can often go home the same day and return to work or school immediately.

Total Body Irradiation. A necessary part of the bone marrow transplant process, total body irradiation treats the patient's body with radiation to suppress their bone marrow, allowing for later transplant of healthy marrow tissue.

Total Skin Electron Therapy. Used in treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and other conditions, this advanced treatment delivers radiation to the surface of the body without damaging deeper structures.