Radiation Oncology

Metropolitan Hospital has been operating an exemplary comprehensive Radiation Center since 2008, with the ability of implementing all the modern techniques.

The Radiation Oncology Center works closely with the Metropolitan Hospital surgical and oncology units. It is supported by the Molecular Biology-Genetics, Clinical Pathology, Radiodiagnostic, Nuclear Medicine and PET-CT departments. This impeccable collaboration is further forged through the Hospital’s weekly Oncology Council meetings, with staff from all the relevant medical specialties. This mechanism ensures the objectivity and credibility of therapeutic decisions, which are tailored to each patient.

The Radiation Oncology Center staff have been fully trained abroad. Our distinguished scientists (qualified physicians and radiophysicists) guarantee the best possible approach and tackle even the most complex oncological problems. Qualified technologists, nursing and secretarial staff respond to the specific needs for the oncological patients’ all-rounded support and ensure that they and their relatives are comfortably and quickly attended to.

Training of Radiation Oncology Center Specialists

Active participation and organization of training seminars under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Scientific meetings under the auspices of the European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO). Our Center has also been certified by international organizations (ESTRO and RTOG).

INTENSITY MODULATED RADIOTHERAPY

New dimension in speed and accuracy

RapidArc®. Extremely precise radiotherapy in less than 2 minutes

RapidArc® by Varian is a type of Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT) that delivers a precisely sculpted 3D dose distribution with a single 360-degree rotation of the linear accelerator.

This new technique for delivering Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) allows maximum protection of the normal tissue, limits side-effects and increases the intensity of the treatment result.

IMAGE-GUIDED RADIATION THERAPY

Absolute target location

Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) is a technique that performs an image scan of the patient in the treatment position, prior to every radiotherapy session.

Imaging is 2D (ExacTrack, Brainlab®, Image 1) or 3D (Cone Beam CT, Image 2). This greatly increases the accuracy of the radiotherapy and reduces the risk of error upon placement of the patient and upon movement of internal organs (e.g. breath).

IMAGE-GUIDED BRACHYTHERAPY

Exclusively for the first time in Greece

3D MRI image-guided brachytherapy for gynecologic tumors with a local control rate of 85% in advanced tumors and 95% in early stage cancers.

The scientists of the Hospital's Radiation Oncology Center have been trained on interstitial image-guided brachytherapy.

Especially in the case of gynecologic cancer, they are internationally recognized and have published a large number of articles (2,800 citations in Research gate) in prestigious journals. At our Hospital, we use the Vienna applicator for interstitial brachytherapy. The applicator material is compatible with the MRI scanner.

In interstitial brachytherapy fine catheters are implanted in the area of the tumor. Targeted radiation is delivered from inside with absolute accuracy and without burdening healthy tissue, while the entire tumor is covered, irrespective of its shape and size.

With systematic use of 4D MRI image-guided brachytherapy, the local control rates range between 85-100%, depending on the extent of the disease. The rate of serious side-effects is less than 5% overall.

BRACHYTHERAPY FOR ACCELERATED PARTIAL BREAST IRRADIATION (APBI)

In women with low-risk breast cancer, the partial breast irradiation technique has been constantly gaining ground. There are multiple benefits for the patients, since radiotherapy is concluded in 5 days, instead of the 6 weeks required for conventional treatment, while the side-effects are less severe and delayed.

Minimum radiation dose to healthy tissue

Radioactive sources are placed in the prostate, delivering high radiation doses, while due to the sharp weakening of the dose, the surrounding tissues receive a much smaller radiation dose. The Metropolitan Hospital Radiotherapy Oncology Center has state-of-the-art systems for designing brachytherapy plans in real time, during the procedure.

INTRACRANIAL STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY

Very high accuracy

Despite its name, Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) is a non-invasive technique with 3 main features:

Very high accuracy (1 - 2 mm)
Very high conformity with sharp dose decrease on the border of the targeted tumor, leading to the least possible irradiation of the surrounding normal tissue
Delivery of a very large radiation dose daily. The radiation therapy is concluded in 1 to 5 sessions; however, it is possible to have more sessions performed, e.g. for large tumors or in cases of re-irradiation (Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy – FSRΤ)

Intracranial SRS is indicated for:

Primary malignant brain tumors, brain metastases, acoustic neuroma, meningioma, pituitary adenoma, eye tumors, hemangiomas and arteriovenous malformations.

Equipment

The Metropolitan Hospital Radiation Oncology Center is equipped with the Novalis Intracranial and Extracranial Stereotactic Radiosurgery system by Varian. The Novalis Radiosurgery system offers advanced and innovative tools for image guidance and management of movements.

Novalis constantly monitors the movement of the patient and the tumor, while the 6D robotic bed allows highly accurate tumor targeting.

The advantages of the Novalis system compared to other radiosurgery systems include:

Greater speed
Irradiation of larger tumors
Capability of multiple sessions

EXTRACRANIAL STEREOTACTIC BODY RADIATION THERAPY

Alternative to conventional surgery

Extracranial Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) has similar features to Intracranial Radiosurgery. It is an excellent alternative to interventional surgery, especially when patients cannot undergo surgery or in cases of inoperable lesions. It has also been shown that SBRT is superior to conventional radiotherapy in certain types of tumors, such as early stage non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

SBRT is indicated for: