Linear Accelerator (LINAC)

LINAC or Linear accelerator machines produce radiation that is referred to as high-energy x-ray. A linear accelerator machine is designed to be a general purpose radiation delivery machine and requires modifications to enable it to be used for radiosurgery or IMRT. Often the modification is the addition of another piece of machinery.

LINAC technology is most often used in multi-session treatments in order to avoid damaging healthy surrounding tissue with too high a dose of radiation.

The best usage of LINAC technology may be its ability to target larger brain and body cancers with less damage to healthy tissues. Known as the CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery/ Radiotherapy System, is a robotic-controlled linear accelerator that delivers pinpoint radiation to reduce or eliminate benign and metastatic tumors and arterio-venous malformations throughout the body. The CyberKnife is a dedicated technology with a small robotic industrial LINAC attached. It targets utilizing "image guided" technology similar to missile technology. Generally, three to five sessions are given.