Radiology Department
The radiology department is a structural subdivision of the Budgetary Public Health Facility Oncology Dispensary No. 2 of the Ministry of Health of the Krasnodar Region, has a 30-bed hospital (4-bed wards and 2-bed wards) and 8 pay-beds (4 are more enhanced comfort beds), treatment and dressing rooms, a gamma-ray teletherapy unit, a unit of radioactive drugs automatic administration, an X-ray therapy unit. In 2014, due to department re-profiling, day care beds were procured.
The department is staffed with experienced and highly professional personnel.
Andrey Aleksandrovich Kolpakov - Head of the Radiology Department
Department doctors:
Valentina Vasilyevna Filimonova - highest qualification category radiologist, 57 years of relevant professional experience.
Olesya Sergeevna Belous - second qualification category radiologist, 5 years of relevant professional experience.
Anastasia Vladimirovna Zvyagina - radiologist, 4 years of relevant professional experience.
Evgeny Aleksandrovich Piskunov - radiologist
Medical physicist: Sergey Vladimirovich Batrakov, 9 years of relevant professional experience.
Nurse supervisor: Svetlana Leonidovna Zakiryants - highest qualification category nurse.
All radiotherapy treatment nurses and 9 nurses of the department have the highest qualification categories.
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| Radiology Department |
Radiotherapy - is a method of ionizing radiation treatment. Irradiation is one of the main methods in oncological practice and is used to treat many types of tumors of different stages, both as an independent method, and in combination with other methods (targeted therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal treatment). Irradiation frustrates processes of self-regulation in malignant cells, ceases their blood supply, leading to the tumor destruction over time. World leading organizations and societies for the treatment of cancer (WHO, NCCN, ESTRO, RTOG) recommend this method for the treatment of 80% of cancer patients as most effective in modern technological environment. External-beam radiotherapy is also used for the treatment of certain types of non-neoplastic diseases that have no other effective methods of treatment.
The department performs radiotherapy according to a radical program, both palliative and symptomatic. Radiotherapy is used independently or in combination with other methods for treatment of almost all oncological diseases. Radiotherapy is most effective in the treatment of lymphoma, breast cancer, rectum, uterus, squamous cell cancer located almost anywhere in the body. Static and moving gamma-ray teletherapy is performed independently and as part of a combined and complex treatment (preoperative and postoperative gamma-ray teletherapy) of malignant tumors of any localization. Combined ray treatment is used in treatment of the female genital and rectum tumors by gamma-ray teletherapy and intracavitary gamma therapy. In the treatment of neoplastic and non-neoplastic skin diseases, close-focus radiotherapy and deep radiotherapy are used. Over 1200 patients annually attend radiotherapy in the radiology department in the hospital and as outpatients.
Department facilities.
The gamma-ray teletherapy units are fitted with two Cobalt-60 machines used for static and moving ray teletherapy: the gamma-therapy machine ROKUS-M (1983 edition, installed in 1985) and Theratron Equinox 80 machine procured by the radiology department in 2013 as part of the modernization program. Theratron Equinox 80 is a gamma-ray teletherapy machine used in radiotherapy (therapy in a static or moving ray mode, with or without the use of a ray modifying device, etc.). The gamma machine creates the highest dose of gamma radiation in the treated tumor, and the skin and tissues surrounding the tumor receive a much smaller dose, which can significantly reduce radiation complications and increase the effectiveness of antitumor treatment. Pre-irradiation preparation is carried out using computed topometry on a ToshibaAquilion computed tomography and Xio 3D planning system, forming a three-dimensional irradiation area, trying to copy the shape of a tumor in order to reduce the radiation dose on healthy tissues. Irradiation bears no unnecessary risk to the patient and staff.
The unit for the automatic radioactive drugs administration is fitted with the GammaMedplus system (operating since February 2015) with Ir-192 radioactive sources for intracavitary gamma therapy of the female genital and rectum cancer.
Embodying the idea of automated radiation sources administration, GammaMed machines are widely used in oncology centers around the world as the most advanced system for planning and conducting contact radiotherapy.
The GammaMedplus system is a flexible and multifunctional system that includes: automated radiation sources administration machine for contact radiotherapy, radiation session planning software, management software, applicators, accessories and devices for quality assurance in brachytherapy.
The machine has the following functions: built-in radiation indication detector, an emergency source extraction system and an emergency power supply source, making GammaMedplus safe, highly accurate, versatile and mobile system.
Since 2012, close-focus and deep radiotherapy has been performed on the Xstrahl 200 machine, procured as part of the modernization program.
Xstrahl 200 is fitted with an integrated dosimeter for continuous control of the dose rate during the treatment session and the subsequent calculation of the patient’s absorbed dose. This allows you to compare the measured dose with the prescribed dose and conclude how accurate the treatment session is.
Xstrahl 200 can be used in treatment of the following diseases:
1. Oncological diseases
- basal cell carcinoma
- squamous cell carcinoma
- mycosis fungoides
- bone metastases
- pallative irradiation of regional metastases
2. Non-oncological diseases
- keloid scars
- dermatomycosis
- dermatological diseases, including psoriasis, etc.
The convenient design of Xstrahl allows treatment of the patient in any position. Subtle and compact system, Xstrahl provides maximum comfort and no stress for the patient during radiotherapy. It is possible to describe, edit and then view each therapy session by using software.
Upon admission the patient must undergo a full clinical examination and laboratory tests:
complete blood count;
common urine analysis;
metabolic panel;
Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
Ultrasound of the kidneys;
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
Ultrasound of regional lymph nodes;
radiography of the chest;
Blood analysis for HIV, HbsAg, HVC, RPR;
MRI of the affected organ (area) or CT ( if medically required);
mammography (for women older than 40 years);
physician consultation;
gynecologist consultation (for women).
Important knowledge for the patients
1. A possibility of side effects during radiotherapy exists: common side effects during radiotherapy include fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, and changes in blood counts can be observed in patients with increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation or when large volumes of tumor lesions are irradiated.
2. Local reactions and manifestations: a) teletherapy almost always includes a ray of radiation passing through the skin, so redness, dryness and peeling of the skin, itching, and the appearance of small bubbles is possible; b) irradiation of the abdominal organs tumors may cause loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, diarrhea, abdominal pain; c) irradiation of the pelvic organs tumors may cause frequent and painful urination, pain in the rectum, loose and frequent stools, abdominal distention, vaginal dryness, pain and various discharges.
3. Irradiation procedure is completely painless. The radiation does not stay in the body and therefore cannot affect people around you.
4. The probability of radiation injury does exist, but modern equipment, careful planning of radiotherapy with a focus on the fundamentals of tissues radiobiology, and compliance with the irradiation technique - the risk is minimized.