This technology is now available only at KMC Hospital Attavar in coastal region

July 4: Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology at KMC Hospital Attavar now offers state-of-the-art ‘3D High Dose Rate Brachytherapy with In Vivo Dosimetry’. This allows accurate dose measurement and treatment. KMC Hospital Attavar is the first hospital in the coastal region to incorporate this technology.
Mangalore city South MLA Vedavyas Kamath inaugurated the ‘3D High Dose Rate Brachytherapy with In Vivo Dosimetry’ at KMC Hospital in Attavar, Mangalore.
Brachytherapy is a form of Radiation therapy where radiation is given to the patient using medical radiation isotopes like Cobalt 60, Iridium 192 an so on by placing hollow metal needles or plastic catheters either inside or on the surface of the body. Radiation is typically delivered over a few minutes once or twice daily over one to three days depending upon the type of tumor. Placement of the hollow needles/plastic catheters requires short term general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia following which the actual treatment delivery is done in a conscious state. The treatment itself is painless. This kind of Radiation therapy gives very high doses of radiation to small targeted areas in the body avoiding normal body structures.
Brachytherapy is used in conjunction with external beam Radiotherapy. It is indicated in cancers of the female genital tract, head and neck cancers, oesophageal cancers, prostate cancers.