Along with surgery and chemotherapy radiotherapy forms the basis
of modern cancer management and it is estimated that at least half
of all cancer patients benefit from it at some point during their
care. Since February 2002 as part of the expansion of the University
Kaposvar and the Institute a new oncoradiological unit is effectively
operating. It involves a team effort combining the work of a Radiation
Oncologists, Radiation Therapists and Medical Physics utilizing
the latest technology providing the full range of radiation therapy
services. Annually around 1500 patents from Somogy county and the
neighboring districts are able to obtain optimal, individually tailored
radiation therapy.
The outpatient clinic opened daily from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. works on
scheduled terms dealing with patients having already diagnosed malignant
disease.
(Tel: 82/502-050 Fax: 82/502-052)
Main fields of scientific research are neurosurgery, chemoirradiation
of head and neck tumors and malignancies of the gastrointestinal
tract, interventional radiooncology, intraarterial cytostatic treatments,
intravascular radiation therapy, local tumor ablation modalities.
The Institute for Oncoradiology is a modern facility with the
latest therapy technology available including:
EQUIPMENT
SIEMENS MEVATRON PRIMUS 6 MV
SIEMENS MEVATRON PRIMUS 6/15 MV
SIEMENS LANTIS
SIEMENS SIMVIEW NT
MDS NORDION THERAPLAN PLUS
MDS NORDION GAMMAMED PLUS
FACILITIES
External beam radiation treatment is the most frequently used form
of radiation treatment. With the use of pretreatment scans and
simulation as well as CT based therapy planning the treatment
site, the size and position of the treatment field and the amount
of radiation needed is determined. To optimize the effects, the
total dose of radiation is divided into small daily doses, commonly
called fractions. Usually, a fraction is delivered daily five
days a week for the whole period of treatment.
Photon Therapy
Photons are x-rays produced outside of the nucleus. In our Institute
all external beam radiation therapy is delivered by linear accelerators
that produce high-energy photons ranging in energy between 6 million
volts (MV) and 15 MV. These high-energy photons are capable of
penetrating deeply into tissues to reach deep-seated tumors while
actually delivering less radiation dose to superficial tissues.
The actual photon energy chosen to treat a tumor depends on the
characteristics of the tumor, patient and treatment technique.
A single photon beam field can be used to treat relatively superficial
tissues such as lymph nodes in the neck and supraclavicular regions.
More often, two or more intersecting beam fields of radiation
are directed at a tumor from different directions.
Conformal Three Dimensional Radiotherapy
There are two conflicting demands, which challenge radiation oncologists,
physicists and radiobiologists ever since radiation has been used;
to deliver a high dose to the tumor to achieve a high level of
local control, while keeping the dose to neighboring healthy tissues
as low as possible.
Three dimensional (3D) conformal radiation therapy used in our
Institute is a sophisticated irradiation technique which allows
a high dose delivered to the tumor while keeping the dose to the
adjacent normal tissues below tolerance. It is only recently that
the technique has become popular in the radiation therapy community
due to the advancement in computer technology. Connected on-line
to the diagnostic Institute our DICOM compatible planning system
for 3D conformal therapy combines the modern imaging technology
(CT and MRI) for accurate tumor delineation. In this way the tumor
can be irradiated to a high dose without increasing morbidity.
A computer planning system droved block- and compensator mold
laboratory enables individual shielding on the treatment machines.
One of the linear accelerators is also equipped with a multi-leaf
collimator (MLC) that allows implementation of the most complex
conformal therapy. 3D conformal techniques represents a collaborative
effort combining the medical specialty of radiation oncologists
with the technical expertise of the physicists and the engineers,
the treatment planning skills of the dosimetrists and the careful
execution of the treatment plans by the radiotherapists
Electron Beam Therapy
Most patients are treated with photon beams produced by the linear
accelerators. These accelerators can also produce a beam of high
energy electrons. Electron beams can be used for treating superficial
tissues such as skin, lymph nodes and whenever it is preferable
to deliver a higher radiation dose superficially and relatively
less dose to deeper tissues.
Internal radiation therapy also known as interstitial or brachytherapy,
delivers radiation from within the body. This treatment typically
involves inserting tiny applicators (catheters) into or near the
tumor. Delivery of HDR (high dose rate) radiation is directed
using state-of-the-art, computerized, equipment. Depending on
the site being treated, positioning of the radioactive source
may be aided by ultrasound guidance or fluoroscopy. HDR brachytherapy
is customized to each patient, so the dose is delivered in specific
patterns to match the shape of the organ being treated. This allows
the HDR machine to direct very high doses of radiation to the
tumor area in just a few minutes, at the same time minimizing
effects to normal tissue.
In some instances the patient may receive a combination of both
internal and external radiotherapy.
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