UOC Radiotherapy

The Radiotherapy Unit ensures patient care from the moment of diagnosis, with the first evaluation, to treatment planning, delivery of radiotherapy and subsequent checks. The entire process is carried out in close collaboration with the other units that collaborate in the Multidisciplinary Oncology Groups (GOM).

The Unit operates in the two main venues of Padua and Schiavonia and makes use of the latest generation equipment that offers high quality and very high precision treatments: 5 linear accelerators, one of which with “IGRT adaptive” mode, i.e. with the possibility of adapting daily radiotherapy to the patient’s anatomy, a Tomotherapy. Special techniques are used including volumetric intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT, VMAT), stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT), total body irradiation (TBI) and total skin irradiation (TSI).

In patients with selected characteristics, after removal of early breast cancer, intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is performed with a dedicated device (Intrabeam).
As regards treatments with radioisotopes, a high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy device is used for the treatment of endocavitary lesions or interstitial treatments with Iridium 192. There is also a close collaboration with the Ophthalmology Clinic of the AO-PD for the therapy of ocular melanomas with episcleral plates with Iodine 125 seeds.
There is also a Protected Section with hospitalizations for metabolic radiotherapy with Iodine 131 for thyroid tumors and Lutetium 177 for neuroendocrine tumors.

Patients who are candidates for external radiotherapy are subjected to simulation CT with the acquisition of images that allow the identification of the volumes to be irradiated and the relevant organs. Fusion techniques with diagnostic tests, MRI or PET/CT, are used for contouring on dedicated computers and the treatment plan is developed and approved in collaboration with the Medical Physics Unit.

Treatments are usually carried out on an outpatient basis, but day hospital and ordinary hospitalization are also available.
The Radiotherapy Unit is divided into several sections which carry out their clinical activity in full synergy and collaboration.