CANCER IMAGING &
RADIATIONTHERAPY SERVICES
128 Slide PET CT Positron emission tomography (PET) Scan
A CT (Computed axial tomography) scan is an advanced medical imaging technology that employs exquisitely focused X-rays along with a detector in association with computer imaging technology to produce 3D images of internal tissues. This radiological scanning technology is basically used when other forms of radiological investigations are unable to locate and detect internal structures inside the body.
The CT machine at Virinchi Hospitals possesses the trademark GEMSTONE TECHNOLOGY. The Gemstone is by far the best innovation, and, of course, the first new detector material in the past two decades, as far as high definition scanning is concerned. It comprises a proprietary CT scintillator material.
The beauty of this fascinating technology is that it has an exclusive garnet structure that enables high-definition imaging (0.23 mm) and superfast KV switching. The recovery time is four times as fast as the other detectors and the primary speed is nearly 100 times faster than other detectors.
With this revolutionary technology (GSI – Gemstone Spectral Imaging) achieving clinical excellence is a routine as it is capable of delivering high-definition imaging consistently on a regular basis. Apart from the advanced imaging capabilities, this technology can be extended across applications. This technology helps in quantitative tissue characterization, apart from the anatomical analysis and functional imaging capabilities. Furthermore, with GSI patients can have reduced radiation doses and exposure.
Oncology:
In oncology the GSI technology helps clinicians in detecting and characterizing lesions, nodules and nodes by improving the visibility of lesions including lymph nodes and hypervascular nodules. Sometimes, by using conventional CT, it becomes quite difficult to distinguish structures whose HU values are too close or very similar – but their composition differs radially. However, GSI technology gives excellent outcomes in such situations – owing to which GSI is useful in studying abdominal anomalies by helping the physicians in getting excellent results. GSI is quite helpful in vascular imaging as it optimizes contrast-media utilization – thus enabling exemplary outcomes in precise vascular studies even at low contrast volumes. This is especially helpful in patients with impaired renal function. The usage of high-density material causes errors in measurement studies and the results are not very precise – but GSI employs monochromatic images that helps give precise projection measurements and reduces the errors related to signals.
There are certain aspects of cardiac imaging that need to be considered for precise cardiac studies to get accurate perfusion and plaque characterization – but, the biggest challenges include calcium blooming and beam hardening. However, GSI overcomes such challenges.
It also integrates Snapshot freeze and GSI assist, which make it easy to achieve accurate functional and anatomical stenosis assessment with a single exam.
3T MRI
State-of-the-art 3T MRI system with high performing gradient coils (highest in the industry) provides high resolution images in about 30 % less time. Dedicated phased array coils for knee, shoulder, breast and paediatric neuro applications offer high definition imaging and improved signal to noise ratio. Ambience lighting with In-bore experience for the patient helps in reducing the claustrophobia. The quality of images of 3T MRI is far better than the routine MRI. Better quality of images allows our radiologists to diagnose different health issues with better outcomes. The problems that were quite difficult to identify in the past are now can be detected quite easily. The larger size of the bore allows hefty patients quite comfortably. In addition, the whole process of examination takes less time. The magnet of 3TMRI is twice as strong as the traditional MRI – therefore, better images with minute details can be produced.
The elderly, paediatric, obese, claustrophobic and all sorts of patients feel comfortable in it
Special Features of 3T MRI
- High resolution images
- Increased throughput
- Routine scans are possible in less than 10 minutes
- Less claustrophobia (for patients)
- Large 70 cm bore allows patients of all shapes & sizes
- Ambient lighting for less anxiety
- Better in-bore experience
- Less acoustic noise for patient comfort
- Reduced patient repositioningMore headroom legroom and elbow room
Extended Applications
- Advanced neuro applications include functional MRI for localisation and mapping of all important areas of the brain and arterial spin labelling for assessing the brain perfusion without the need for contrast administration.
- Functional MRI in neuroimaging helps to localize and map important functional areas of the brain for planning surgery and assessment of surgical outcome for tumours thus minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
- Non-contrast MR Angiography of renal arteries and lower limb arteries for patients with renal dysfunction can be performed without the need for contrast.
- MR Elastography helps in the evaluation of diseases of liver, breast and brain tumours.
- Advanced cardiac imaging applications include myocardial perfusion and viability studies.
- MR Cartigraphy with cartilage mapping helps in the assessment of cartilage of joints.
- Whole body diffusion studies for various body and spine imaging applications including liver, kidneys and prostate.
- Iron and fat quantification of liver helps to detect early damage to the liver.
- Motion correction techniques in both neuro and abdominal applications allow imaging of irritable and uncooperative patients and reduce respiratory motion artefacts.
Digital Mammography
This type of specialized imaging is known as mammography. Digital mammography employs sensors (receptors) and computers in place of traditional X-ray photographic films to study breast tissue. The digital X-ray sensors are helpful in digitally transferring and enhancing images by transferring the electrical signals on computer screens – thus allowing radiologists to clearly study and analyse them more accurately and precisely. The advantages of this type of technology include high efficiency, accuracy, and low exposure to radiations and reduced usage of X-ray films.
Nuclear Medicine
In nuclear medicine very small amounts of radioactive materials are used to examine the function and structure of internal organs. This type of radiology is helpful in diagnosing and treating abnormalities very early. X-rays pass through soft tissues making them difficult to visualize and therefore nuclear medicine is helpful in such cases. Thus, diagnostic X-rays are used primarily to study anatomy, whereas nuclear imaging is used to study organ and tissue function.
Gamma Camera
Radioactive substances are used to study different tissues of the body. The different types of radioactive substances used include iodine, gallium, xenon, thallium and technetium. Very small amount of such radioactive substances are used. The substance is absorbed by the body tissues – such substances are called radioactive tracer. The type of radionuclide used depends on the type of study and the body part being studied.
The substances (radioactive) that are administered in the body are collected by the body tissues and give off radiation, which is detected by a radiation detector. Gamma Camera is one of the most common types of detector.
A Gamma camera detects the radiation given by the body tissues and helps the physicians detect the abnormalities in the organs like abscesses, cysts, tumours, organ enlargement, hematomas, etc. Physicians measure the behaviour of the radioactive substance in the body during a nuclear scan and assess and diagnose several diseases.
Some of the more common tests include the following:
- Renal scans – helpful in detecting abnormalities of the renal system including kidneys, obstructions in the renal blood flow and tumours of the renal system.
- Thyroid scans – These are used to evaluate thyroid function or to better evaluate a thyroid nodule or mass.
- Gallium scans – These are used to diagnose active infectious and/or inflammatory diseases, tumours, and abscesses.
- Breast scans – Along with the mammograms, breast scans are done to locate cancerous tissue in the breast
- Brain scans – Brain scans help assess, analyse and investigate conditions of the brain and blood circulation
- Heart scans – These scans are helpful in determining the magnitude of damage caused to the heart muscles after a heart attack; abnormalities in the blood flow to the heart and measuring heart function.
- Bone scans – These are used to evaluate any degenerative and/or arthritic changes in the joints, to detect bone diseases and tumours, and/or to determine the cause of bone pain or inflammation.
Linear Accelerator
TRUEBEAM STx with Triple F technology, the most sophisticated and the BEST linear accelerator in the world is commissioned at Virinchi Cancer Centre with patient’s best interest in mind. Triple F technology which is built into “TrueBeam” delivers high dose rate of radiation precisely to intended target, thereby reducing treatment time and risk of side effects. With True Beam STx and 128 Slice CT gemstone technology (the most advanced image-guided Triple F Stereotactic Radiosurgery) Virinchi Hospitals is leading in Cancer care.
- With sub-millimetre positioning accuracy and shortest duration in minutes our oncologists aggressively treat complex cancer cases. With Image Guided Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy the radiation beam is safely guided into tumours while protecting surrounding organs.
- The centre offers advanced imaging (Image guided Radiation Therapy) & 4RT technology to precisely pinpoint tumour location during treatment. With Image Guided Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy the radiation beam is safely guided into tumours while protecting surrounding organs.
Virinchi Hospitals offers treatment for both adult as well as Pediatric cancers.
Treatment options at Virinchi Hospitals include:
External Beam Radiation Therapy
- 2D/3D conformal radiation therapy
- Intensity Modulated Radiation therapy (IMRT)
- Image Guided IMRT (IGIMRT)
- Rapid Arc Therapy
- Rapid Arc IMRT
- Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR or SBRT)
- Stereotactic Radio Surgery (SRS for intracranial tumours)
Brachytherapy
- Breast Cancer
- Cholangiocarcinomas
- Gynaecological Cancers
- Esophageal Cancers
- Lung Cancers
- Prostate
- Soft tissue Sarcomas
Paediatric Oncology
- Leukaemia /Lymphomas
- Bone & Soft tissue Sarcoma
- Kidney Tumours (Wilm’s) & Neuroblastomas
- Childhood Brain Tumours