Radiation Oncology Associates of New Jersey - Doctors James Wong, M.D., Timothy Chen, M.D., and Mona El-Gabry, M.D. make up the dynamic physician team at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Memorial Hospital. These top physicians are experts at treating all types of cancers including Prostate, Breast, Lung, Liver, Pancreas, Esophagus, Brain, Head & Neck, Rectal, Gynecological, Sarcomas, Seminomas, and recurrent cancers with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), 3-D conformal, Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Brachytherapy, Mammosite, and Stereotactic techniques. Our radiation oncology department is renowned as one of the most progressive and prestigious cancer treatment centers in the tri-state area.

DELIVERY
At the center there are three high-performance linear accelerators with multi-leaf collimation to produce precise beam shaping to target the treatment site and protect surrounding normal tissue. The results are shorter treatment times, more comfort and fewer side effects.

IMAGE-GUIDED RADIATION THERAPY
The CTVision System combines the use of diagnostic quality CT images and high energy x-rays to pinpoint the tumor location and minimize dosage to uninvolved tissue. This new treatment modality, with advanced image guidance, has been successfully utilized in the treatment of several malignancies.

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BRACHYTHERAPY TREATMENT:
Among our specialized treatments are new methods for delivering radiation deep inside the body (Brachytherapy). The precise dosage and location of radiation is automatically delivered through an applicator, which is positioned inside the body, in close proximity to the tumor. Brachytherapy treatment can be given in different ways.

High Dose rate Brachytherapy
A device or catheters will be implanted into or close to the tumor. The radioactive source is then placed inside a catheter for a short duration of time. The amount of time that the source stays inside the patient is depends on how much of a dosage needs to be delivered. Typically, each treatment takes between 5 and 25 minutes and can be administered as either an outpatient or inpatient procedure. This treatment method can be used for a variety of different cancers, including lung, esophageal, gynecological, prostate and sarcoma. We have had many successful outcomes using this procedure to on previously treated recurrent cancers.

Low Dose rate Brachytherapy
The applicator is placed close to the tumor for a longer duration of time. Radiation is slowly released into the tumor. This includes permanent seed implantation that delivers tiny radioactive seeds into the tumor. It also includes iridium ribbons (Ir192) and cesium (Cs134) implants that deliver high doses of radiation to the cancer while minimizing the dosage to adjacent organs. This treatment method is provided primarily on an inpatient basis.

These procedures give physicians and patients the significant advantage of application of a higher dose of radiation directly to the tumor. At the same time, by using advanced computer calculations healthy tissue and surrounding organs are spared. Advances in computer technology have enabled us to apply brachytherapy to difficult clinical cases that were previously considered untreatable.

During 2007, the Department of Radiation Oncology at Morristown Memorial Hospital continued the expansion of it’s patient base while pursuing the latest cancer treatment technology. The physicians and staff of our department provide excellent clinical services to our patients; our average patient satisfaction rate throughout the year was 95%. One of our most important goals is the on-going pursuit of research opportunities for future innovations in radiation treatment

The field of image guided radiation therapy in this country originated at Morristown Memorial Hospital in 2000. The launching of this ground-breaking treatment was years ahead of our closest competitor in New Jersey. Over the past seven years our department has delivered over 5,000 image guided radiation treatments. Since we began our work has been duplicated and confirmed by leading institutions, such as MD Anderson Cancer Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center, and the German Cancer Institute.

The very impressive long term follow-up of our patients has led us to move ahead to further our clinical development. Our latest addition is the second generation of our CTVision unit. This new system consists of a Siemens ONCOR Avant Garde and a 16-slide Somatom Sensation CT scanner. The ultra fast CT scanner provides superb diagnostic quality CT images within seconds for precise tumor localization. This unique combination of state-of-the-art CT scanner and accelerator allows Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) to be employed most efficiently and precisely. Our department has placed major emphasis on the development of this new system.

Through extensive scientific work, we have achieved an advanced clinical knowledge on the use of Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and received international recognition for our achievements. Our team has presented their clinical findings at prestigious conferences, such as the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO). Our IGRT utilizes a state-of-the-art image recognition system to increase the efficiency and accuracy of radiation treatment, resulting in unsurpassed clinical outcomes.

These accomplishments are moving us towards our goal of becoming one of the most successful, best known and most respected Radiation Oncology departments in the country.