Nuclear Oncology

Archive for the ‘Nuclear Medicine’ Category

What is the Chemoembolization
Chemoembolization is a combination of local administration of chemotherapy and a procedure called embolization to treat cancer, particularly liver.

In chemoembolization, anticancer drugs are injected directly into the blood vessel that feeds a cancerous tumor. In addition, a synthetic material called embolic agent is placed inside the blood vessels that supply blood to the tumor, trapping effect of chemotherapy in the tumor.

Some common uses of the procedure

Chemoembolization is most effective in patients with cancer confined to the liver, either primary tumor or from another organ (metastasis).

Some cancers can be treated with chemoembolization include:

* Heptocelular hepatoma carcinoma (primary liver cancer)
* Metastasis (spread) to the liver from: Read the rest of this entry »

Do you use this equipment

A linear accelerator (LINAC) is the device most commonly used to give external beam radiation therapy to cancer patients. The linear accelerator can also be used to treat all parts / organs. Provides high-energy X-rays to the tumor region of the patient. These X-ray treatments can be designed to destroy cancer cells without affecting surrounding normal tissue. The LINAC is used to treat all parts of the body using conventional therapies, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) guided radiotherapy (IGRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

How does this team

The linear accelerator uses microwave technology (similar to that used for radar) to accelerate electrons in the accelerator called a “waveguide” and then allows these electrons to collide against a target of heavy metal. As a result of collisions, high energy X-rays are produced from the target. These high-energy X-rays are shaped as they leave the machine to form a beam that resembles the shape of the patient’s tumor, and this beam is directed to personalized patient’s tumor. The beam can be formed either by blocks placed at the head of the machine or multi-leaf collimator built into the machine head. The patient lies on a movable treatment couch and lasers are used to ensure that the patient is in the proper position. The treatment couch can be moved in various directions such as up, down, right, left, inward and outward. The beam leaves the accelerator called a gantry part, which can be rotated around the patient. Radiation can be delivered to the tumor from any angle by rotating the gantry and moving the treatment couch. Read the rest of this entry »