Accelerated radiation therapy is a type of radiation treatment in which the total dose of radiation is given over a shorter period of time (fewer days) compared to standard radiation therapy.
This answer is based on source information from the National Cancer Institute.
External beam radiation therapy is the type most commonly used in oncology. For this type of radiation therapy, you lie on a table and receive a dose of radiation from a linear accelerator, a device that allows radioactive beams to penetrate your body. 3-D conformal radiation therapy is a type of external radiation therapy that allows beams of radiation to penetrate both the inside and the outside of your tumors. Internal radiation therapy uses radioactive implants to deliver radiation directly to the site of your tumor. Radiopharmaceutical drugs also send radiation directly to the site of the tumor.
CyberKnife surgery is not the same as Gamma Knife surgery, but they're very similar. Radiosurgery is the umbrella term. If you receive radiation in a lot of fractions, it is called radiotherapy. But if you receive it in five fractions or fewer, it is called radiosurgery. It is exactly the same radiation tactic, but the differing number of fractions will determine if it is called radiosurgery or radiotherapy.
There are different kinds of branding for radiosurgery and radiotherapy. One of them, the oldest and most well studied, is Gamma Knife. CyberKnife surgery is another kind of radiosurgery or radiotherapy. It's essentially just a different brand name although a very similar procedure.
Find out more about this DVD:
When Is CyberKnife Therapy Preferable Over Traditional Radiation Therapy?
