Cervical Cancer — Embolization or Chemoembolization: treatment in the Best Hospitals in the World
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Department of Interventional Radiology
The Department of Interventional Radiology offers the full range of imaging examinations, as well as innovative image-guided minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of tumors, vascular diseases and internal pathologies (for example, CT, MRI, PET-CT, SPECT). The department's doctors have deep knowledge and colossal experience in the field of interventional radiological methods of treatment, which represent an excellent alternative to open surgical interventions. Despite the high level of technical equipment and the presence of advanced computerized systems, the focus is always on the person with his individual needs. Compliance with current clinical protocols and high professionalism of the department's specialists contribute to the successful clinical practice, as well as the reputability of the department among the best medical facilities of this kind in Germany.
Department of Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology
The Department of Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology offers a full range of advanced imaging diagnostics and minimally invasive treatments on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. The department has state-of-the-art medical equipment for imaging tests such as X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, digital subtraction angiography, and mammography. The medical facility also performs many highly effective interventional therapeutic procedures under image guidance, which in many cases allow patients to avoid traumatic open surgery. For example, the department successfully performs local fibrinolysis, thrombectomy, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, hemostasis, transarterial chemoembolization, uterine artery embolization, and other procedures. The department's neuroradiologists specialize in brain and spinal cord imaging and the treatment of central nervous system disorders. Interventional neuroradiology focuses on the treatment of carotid artery stenosis, brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, dural fistulas, subdural hematomas, brain tumors, skull base and spinal tumors, and chronic back pain. The department's medical team has extensive clinical experience in their areas of expertise. The specialists are guided by the recommendations of the German Society for Interventional Radiology and Minimally Invasive Therapy (DeGIR) and the German Society for Neuroradiology (DGNR), which helps to achieve the best results.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology is one of the best institutions of its kind in Germany and offers patients the full range of radiological studies and imaging-guided minimally invasive therapy. The department’s scope of tasks also includes imaging diagnostics in children of all age groups, detection and invasive treatment of cerebral vascular pathology (neuroradiology). Patient care is provided both on an inpatient and outpatient basis.
Department of Interventional Radiology
The Department of Interventional Radiology specializes in the full range of minimally invasive image-guided interventions for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Diagnostic interventional procedures allow obtaining tissue samples for further laboratory tests. Most minimally invasive interventional procedures are performed for the treatment of vascular obstruction or stenosis, as well as for tumor destruction. The surgeon inserts special catheters and/or probes through small skin punctures. All surgical procedures are performed under image guidance – X-ray, digital subtraction angiography, ultrasound, CT, MRI. The specialist can clearly see all the anatomical structures and a pathological focus, thanks to which he accurately controls the delivery of the catheter to the required site and all subsequent manipulations. It is worth noting that the department was awarded the quality certificate of the German Society for Interventional Radiology (DeGIR) in 2018, which guarantees effective treatment in accordance with modern medical standards. The department's doctors have the necessary skills and qualifications, which allow them to select the best treatment option for each patient and ensure its successful conduction.
Department of Interventional Neuroradiology
The Department of Interventional Neuroradiology offers the full range of services in the areas of its specialization. The medical facility provides imaging diagnostics and low-traumatic image-guided interventional treatment of nervous system diseases. The department's specialists have rich experience and exceptional professional skills in the field of interventional procedures for acute and chronic vascular diseases, such as ischemic strokes, brain hemorrhages, cerebral artery stenosis, brain aneurysms, and vascular malformations. The department's neuroradiologists cooperate closely with neurologists and neurosurgeons so that each patient receives an optimal treatment regimen based on the expert opinions of the specialists. The department's medical team has state-of-the-art computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and MR angiography systems that are actively used for diagnosing patients and therapeutic procedures. Medical care is provided in compliance with current clinical protocols. The department also offers many outpatient medical services, which is an advantage for many patients.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology offers the full range of medical services in these fields. In order to ensure the most accurate and reliable diagnostics, the department has state-of-the-art systems for CT, MRI, PET, ultrasound and X-ray examinations, as well as PET-CT and SPECT-CT hybrid examinations. The department specializes in interventional radiology, namely, imaging-guided therapy. It performs all vascular (for example, vascular recanalization) and non-vascular imaging-guided interventions (for example, tumor ablation). The department is one of the largest and leading medical facilities of this kind in Europe.
Department of Interventional Radiology
The Department of Interventional Radiology offers a full range of modern imaging tests and image-guided therapeutic procedures. The department performs imaging examinations for patients from all departments of the University Hospital Oldenburg: X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, sonography, mammography, and angiography; diagnostic examinations are performed on an outpatient basis. To ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, the department has state-of-the-art medical equipment, including a 64-slice spiral CT scanner, two high-performance 1.5 Tesla MRI scanners, advanced equipment for digital subtraction angiography, pulsed fluoroscopy, and many other devices. The department's team of physicians also specializes in image-guided therapeutic interventional procedures – the treatment of vascular stenoses and occlusions, malignant tumors, and chronic back pain. Therapeutic manipulations are often performed on an outpatient basis. The department adheres strictly to radiation safety standards, so patients can expect highly effective and safe treatment.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology specializes in modern imaging examinations and minimally traumatic image-guided interventional procedures. Of particular interest to the department's experienced medical team is individualized minimally invasive therapy for cancer and the treatment of pain syndromes and vascular pathologies. The medical facility has state-of-the-art equipment for X-ray scanning, angiography, ultrasound scanning, CT, MRI, and PET/MRI. The diagnostic devices are adapted for children, including newborns. During examinations and treatment, the department's specialists strictly meet radiation protection standards. As for treatment, special attention in clinical practice is paid to interventional procedures for vascular diseases and malignant tumors. These procedures are performed using catheter-based techniques under CT, MRI, or angiography guidance. Despite the low trauma rate of interventional manipulations, their effectiveness is comparable to full-fledged surgery. The medical facility cooperates closely with other departments at the hospital, thus providing comprehensive medical care at the highest level of university medicine. The department's successful clinical practice has been recognized by prestigious quality certificates, including the ClarZert certificate and certificates from the German Cancer Society (DKG) and the German Radiological Society (DRG).
Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology provides the full range of services in these fields and specializes in conducting radiologic examinations, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, vascular, oncological, orthopedic and urologic interventions. The department includes specialized Sections for Gynecologic, Pediatric and Orthopedic Radiology.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology offers the full range of modern radiological examinations and minimally invasive imaging-guided treatment of various diseases. Most often, radiologists have to deal with the diagnostics and therapy of tumors, inflammatory processes, injuries, pathologies of the heart and vascular diseases. The combination of advanced medical technologies and high professionalism of the doctors working in the department are the key to the successful treatment results.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Interventional Radiology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Interventional Radiology provides the full range of medical services in the area of its specialization. The department offers modern diagnostic rooms with advanced equipment for imaging examinations for patients with suspected cancer, diseases of the cardiovascular system, thorax, abdominal organs, musculoskeletal system, and breast diseases. The department's diagnostic systems are adapted for examining children of different age groups. The medical facility also offers many therapeutic services, the most popular of which include MRI-guided treatment of uterine fibroids with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and uterine artery embolization, prostate adenoma treatment with prostate artery embolization, tumor treatment with brachytherapy, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, percutaneous microwave ablation, and transarterial chemoembolization. The doctors working at the medical facility also have rich experience in the interventional treatment of vascular pathologies and arteriovenous malformations. The department has an excellent reputation and regularly diagnoses and treats patients not only from Germany but also from other countries in the world.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology offers the full range of services in these medical fields. Here patients can undergo all modern imaging diagnostic studies and therapeutic procedures, the quality of which corresponds to high international standards. The department also specializes in conducting radiological studies in children and adolescents. The cutting-edge technical equipment and the rich clinical experience of doctors contribute to the successful work of the department.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology offers the full range of modern diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in this field. For this purpose, it has advanced medical equipment: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), multispiral computed tomography (CT), duplex sonography and digital X-ray, fluoroscopy, etc. In the field of interventional radiology, the focus is on the treatment of vascular diseases, for example, the doctors of the department conduct special measures for dilating the vessels in peripheral arterial occlusive disease and closing the vessels in complicated bleedings. Also, the range of services in this field is complemented by the installation of drainage and port systems, punctures, and special percutaneous methods for tumor treatment.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology offers the full range of services in these fields. It conducts all types of modern imaging studies: sonography, digital X-ray, angiography, multilayer computed tomography and conventional MRI, positron emission tomography (PET/CT), etc. The department also specializes in minimally invasive treatment of various tumors, vascular pathology (obstruction and vascular stenosis). The Section of Experimental Radiology is engaged in active research to optimize existing methods and develop new ones.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic, Interventional Radiology offers the full range of services in these medical fields. It conducts all modern radiological examinations and imaging-guided minimally invasive interventions for the treatment of various benign and malignant diseases. A feature of the department is imaging diagnostics in children and adolescents. There are specially adapted devices with minimal irradiation for this purpose.
Department of Interventional Radiology
The Department of Interventional Radiology provides the full range of medical services in the area of its specialization. The team of the department's doctors specializes in diagnostic and therapeutic image-guided interventional procedures. The doctors have at their disposal the most advanced imaging devices, including X-ray systems, ultrasound devices, equipment for computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. In most cases, the department's specialists perform interventions on the vessels, and therefore doctors from the Department of Vascular Surgery are often involved in the therapeutic process. The use of state-of-the-art equipment allows the patients to get rid of pathological changes in the vessels of any part of the body, excluding open invasive surgery with its high risks. The department's medical staff has excellent qualifications and vast clinical experience, so patients confidently trust their health to real professionals.
Cervical cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the reproductive system in young women. Its development is caused by human papillomavirus. In developed countries, the disease becomes less common and is usually cured at the early stages. However, in countries with a poor level of medicine, cervical cancer is often detected at the advanced stages, and therefore it requires combination treatment. Doctors abroad use not only standard treatment methods, but also carry out uterine artery chemoembolization. The procedure can be used before surgery to remove the uterus or as an independent method of local control of the tumor.
Content
- What is embolization
- In what cases can embolization be used for cervical cancer
- How is the procedure performed
- Embolization results
- Benefits of chemoembolization
- Why is it worth undergoing chemoembolization abroad
- Treatment in Europe with Booking Health at an affordable price
What is embolization
Embolization is a treatment method in oncology, which involves closing the lumen of the vessels supplying the tumor. Due to a lack of blood supply, cancer cells die, so the tumor decreases in size.
Embolization has been used in oncology since the 1970s. Uterine artery embolization was first performed in 1979 to stop bleeding after childbirth. Since the end of the twentieth century, it has been used in the treatment of uterine fibroids. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the procedure has been increasingly used for cervical cancer.
There are various agents used for the closure of the lumen of the vessels. These include:
- Polyurethane foam particles.
- Hemostatic sponge.
- Microspheres.
- Metal spirals.
- Alcohols.
- Adhesive compositions.
- Blood clots, etc.
In its classical form, embolization is usually used to eliminate uterine bleeding, which occurs at the advanced stages of cervical cancer.
Nonetheless, the treatment is usually aimed at increasing life expectancy or reducing the tumor size for its follow-up surgical removal. Therefore, embolization is usually supplemented with regional chemotherapy. In this form, the procedure is called chemoembolization. This treatment option is very effective, as it allows the doctors to create a high concentration of cytostatics in the tumor tissue.
In what cases can embolization be used for cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is well treated at the early stages, but patients with locally advanced stages are not candidates for radical surgery. Surgery is actually the only method, which can provide a complete cure for the disease.
With unresectable cancer, the task of doctors is to reduce the tumor size and make it resectable. The cancer can be subsequently removed by trying to cure the disease. To reduce the size of the neoplasm, neoadjuvant treatment, most often chemotherapy, is used. It opens the possibility of using a surgical method for some patients.
Not all patients respond to chemotherapy. In some of them, the disease is manifested by severe uterine bleeding, which causes anemia and worsens a general health condition of the woman. In such cases, uterine artery embolization is used.
The procedure is combined with regional chemotherapy, which is more effective than systemic chemotherapy due to the higher concentration of the active substance in the tumor focus. The drug load on cancer cells increases by 1.5 times, while the number and severity of systemic side effects decreases. In 2005, the clinical efficacy advantage of regional chemotherapy over systemic chemotherapy was first proved in a randomized trial (O. Ikeda et al.).
Thus, the goals of using uterine artery embolization for cervical cancer are as follows:
- Tumor size reduction.
- Increased likelihood of achieving a resectable state in order to further remove the tumor surgically and try to cure cervical cancer.
- With an inoperable tumor, local control of the disease, increasing the duration and quality of a woman's life.
- Cessation of uterine bleeding.
How is the procedure performed
The treatment options for cervical cancer using embolization or chemoembolization are attractive to many patients as the procedures are safe for health and minimally invasive. The doctor obtains access to the uterine arteries through the vessels in the leg. Other access options are less commonly used – through the brachial, axillary, and radial arteries.
The most important stage of the procedure is diagnostics. Doctors perform angiography to assess the type of blood supply to the reproductive organs and cancer. An inadequate assessment of angioarchitectonics (structure of the vascular network) leads both to a decreased effectiveness of the procedure and to an increased risk of complications in the organs adjacent to the uterus.
The doctor injects drug-eluting microspheres into the arteries, which feed the tumor. They clog blood vessels and for a long time release chemotherapy drugs, which destroy cancer cells.
Postembolization syndrome may persist for 2-3 days after the procedure. It is manifested by abdominal pain, nausea, and fever. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve symptoms.
Embolization results
Uterine bleeding completely stops within 1 week after the procedure.
The uterus decreases in size gradually. The maximum results can be achieved after 3 weeks. This period is optimal for further treatment – surgery or radiation therapy according to a radical program.
The best results can be achieved with the exophytic nature of tumor growth, namely when it grows into the lumen of the reproductive organs. In general, the prognosis for this form of pathology is worse. After chemoembolization, the volume of the uterus in such patients decreases 3-4 times.
Benefits of chemoembolization
As compared to other treatment options for cervical cancer, uterine artery chemoembolization has many advantages:
- Minimally invasive method. After the procedure, a patient does not need to recover for a long time. The duration of a hospital stay is 3-4 days.
- Higher efficiency as compared to systemic cytostatic therapy, since the concentration of chemotherapy drugs in the tumor is one and a half times higher with less systemic toxicity.
- There is a high likelihood of achieving tumor resectability: it can be removed surgically a few weeks after chemoembolization.
- Embolization can be combined with virtually any treatment for cervical cancer.
- Suitable treatment for patients who are weakened due to disease or have concomitant diseases.
- In addition to the tumor reduction, the procedure stops uterine bleeding.
Why is it worth undergoing chemoembolization abroad
European oncology hospitals have been successfully using various options for uterine artery chemoembolization in the treatment of cervical cancer for more than 20 years. The technique of performing this procedure is constantly improved, which makes it more effective and safe.
There are several reasons why you should undergo uterine artery embolization treatment in Europe:
- Vast experience in the use of uterine artery chemoembolization for the treatment of cervical cancer.
- High-precision diagnostics allows the doctors to carry out accurate assessment of the state of the vasculature in order to perfectly plan the X-ray-guided surgical treatment of cancer.
- Doctors protect non-target vessels from penetration of embolization agents into them in order to avoid complications associated with ischemia (insufficient blood supply) of organs adjacent to the uterus.
- New types of chemoembolization are used for the treatment of cancer, including the use of drug-eluting microspheres.
- Doctors abroad successfully combine embolization with other cancer treatment options: surgery, radiation therapy, systemic drug therapy.
Treatment in Europe with Booking Health at an affordable price
To undergo treatment in one of the European hospitals, please use the services of Booking Health. On our website, you can see the cost of treatment in different European hospitals, compare prices and book a medical care program at an affordable price. Transcatheter chemoembolization for cervical carcinoma in European hospitals will be easier and faster for you, and the cost of treatment will be lower.
Please leave your request on our website. Our employee will contact you and provide consultation about the treatment in Europe. Booking Health will take care of the organization of your trip. We will provide the following benefits for you:
- We will select a hospital for treatment in Europe, whose doctors specialize in transcatheter chemoembolization for cervical carcinoma.
- We will help you overcome the language barrier, establish communication with your attending physician.
- We will reduce the waiting period for the medical care program and book a doctor's appointment on the most suitable dates.
- We will reduce the price. The cost of treatment in European hospitals will be lower due to the lack of coefficients for foreign patients.
- We will take care of all organizational issues: documents for entering the country, transfer from the airport, hotel, interpreting services, etc.
- We will prepare a medical care program and translate medical records. You do not have to undergo previously performed diagnostic procedures.
- We will provide communication with the hospital after treatment in Europe.
- We will organize additional diagnostic examinations and treatment in European hospitals, if necessary.
- We will buy medicines abroad and forward them to your native country.
- We will help you keep in touch with the hospital and the doctor after treatment in Europe.
You will receive treatment from the best doctors in the world. The Booking Health specialists will help reduce the cost of treatment and take care of all organizational issues, and you will only have to focus on restoring your health.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko
