Spinal Astrocytoma — Radiotherapy: treatment in the Best Hospitals in the World
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Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology
The Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology offers all types of modern radiation therapy for the highly effective treatment of benign and malignant tumors. The department has three linear accelerators and systems for brachytherapy, with the help of which the patients are provided with the safest, most effective and most sparing irradiation of tissues affected by oncopathology. The department's tasks also include radiation therapy planning and radiosurgery. An ultramodern technical base, exceptional professionalism and experience of the department's doctors are the cornerstone of the successful clinical practice.
Department of Radiation Therapy
According to the Focus magazine, the University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich is regularly ranked among the best medical institutions in Germany! The hospital is the largest multidisciplinary medical facility, as well as a leading research and training center in Germany and Europe. The hospital is proud of its bicentenary history and tirelessly confirms its primacy at the national and international levels. The outstanding quality of medical care is complemented by highly productive research activities, thanks to which many effective diagnostic and therapeutic methods, saving people’s lives, have been presented in medical practice.
Department of Radiation Therapy
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Radiation Therapy ranks among the top German medical facilities in the area of its specialization! The department offers all types of modern radiation therapy for cancer treatment at the highest level of university medicine. The priorities of the department's work include the treatment of tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, urogenital system in men, gynecological tumors in women, oncopathologies of the nervous system, as well as head and neck tumors. Each department's specialist strives to ensure all the patients with the most effective and at the same time customized treatment. Due attention is also paid to radiation protection.
Department of Radiation Therapy, Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy
The Department of Radiation Therapy, Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy offers the full range of modern radiation therapy at the highest medical and technological level. Innovative proton therapy is also within the competence of the medical facility. As the largest medical facility of this kind in Eastern Saxony, the department annually admits about 2,300 cancer patients, 550 of whom are treated on an inpatient basis. In total, the department has about 110 employees, including 26 doctors, 14 physicists, 22 radiological assistants, 22 nurses and 28 employees of various profiles (in radiation biology research laboratories and other sections). The department's doctors cooperate closely with oncologists, chemotherapists and other specialists in related fields, since cancer patients usually require comprehensive treatment that combines several methods. In most cases, patients undergo radiation therapy on an outpatient basis, which eliminates the need for hospitalization. The main value of the department's medical team is the patient's health, so doctors always strive to provide qualified medical care that meets the individual needs of the patient.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Radiation Therapy
According to the prestigious Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric Radiation Therapy is one of the best medical facilities in Germany in its area of specialization! The physicians of the department pay special attention to the treatment of malignant diseases such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, colon cancer, and other tumors. The specialists of the medical facility are also competent in performing radiation therapy for benign diseases with a special emphasis on the treatment of lateral epicondylitis, arthrosis, and heel spurs. The department has state-of-the-art equipment, including a CT scanner, two linear accelerators, a MicroSelectron HDR machine for short-term high-dose irradiation (Afterloading therapy), Oncentra External Beam and Oncentra Brachy machines for irradiation planning, and the iPlan system (Brainlab) for stereotactic irradiation planning. The department performs all types of radiation therapy available in modern medicine. Treatment is performed on an outpatient basis without hospitalization. Each radiation therapy regimen is planned according to the individual needs and wishes of each patient. The department's physicians work with advanced equipment that ensures effective results and high radiation safety.
Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology
According to the the Focus magazine, the Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in radiation therapy! The department offers all types of modern radiation therapy for the treatment of malignant neoplasms of various localization. The availability of the cutting-edge radiation therapy technologies, the close cooperation with the specialists from all related disciplines, as well as the experience and competence of doctors provide patients with the individualized treatment and the best therapy results. The department is also part of the Jena University Cancer Center, which employs outstanding professionals who are ready to provide medical care even in the most difficult clinical cases.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Radiation Therapy
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Radiation Therapy provides top-class conduction of all types of modern radiation therapy for the treatment of malignant and benign diseases. In most cases, irradiation is indicated to patients with cancers, but this treatment method is also effective for some benign diseases: tennis elbow, arthrosis, as well as other degenerative and inflammatory joint diseases. The department's doctors offer patients individual consultations and radiation therapy using the very latest medical technologies, which guarantee high precision of irradiation and sparing treatment. The department provides many innovative types of radiation therapy, which can effectively deal with all types of cancer. In addition, the department's doctors welcome the use of symptomatic treatment to improve the patients' quality of life and the effectiveness of irradiation. The specialists often resort to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and other procedures.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Radiation Therapy, Radiation Oncology
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric Radiation Therapy, Radiation Oncology is included in the rating of the top German departments specializing in radiation therapy! The department offers the full range of treatment of oncological diseases using ionizing radiation by means of external (teletherapy) or internal (brachytherapy) tumor radiation. The specialists of the department are doing their best to ensure the most effective cancer therapy, taking into account the very latest advances in science and medical technology, interdisciplinary cooperation and an individual approach.
Department of Radiation Therapy
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Radiation Therapy is included in the ranking of the top German department specializing in radiation therapy! The department offers all types of modern radiation therapy for the treatment of cancers. The competent medical team of the department annually provides its services to 2,000 patients.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Radiation Therapy, Ion Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Radiation Therapy, Ion Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology offers the full range of radiological diagnostics and cancer therapy. A feature of the department is the exact treatment of cancer with the help of heavy ions and proton therapy. Therapy with heavy ions and protons makes it possible to effectively destroy tumors of difficult-to-reach localization, while maintaining healthy tissues. The department belongs to the most modern medical institutions of this level in the international medical arena. It treats more than 3,500 cancer patients every year.
Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology ranks among the top German departments specializing in radiotherapy! The department offers all types of modern radiation therapy for the treatment of malignant and benign diseases, various functional disorders. Depending on the patient's state of health and the course of the disease, radiation therapy can be carried out on an outpatient or inpatient basis, as well as in combination with other treatment methods, for example, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, etc. The high-tech equipment, exceptional professionalism of doctors and close cooperation with the specialists from related fields contribute to the provision of first-class and tailored medical care.
Department of Radiation Oncology
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Radiation Oncology ranks among the top German departments specializing in radiation therapy! The department offers all advanced types of radiation therapy for the treatment of oncological diseases. Any therapeutic procedure is prescribed individually, taking into account the specific situation and course of pathology. The modern medical equipment and outstanding competence of the physicians contribute to the successful clinical practice of the department.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology and Radiation Therapy
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology and Radiation Therapy offers the full range of services in these medical fields. The competent doctors of the department work with the state-of-the-art systems for CT, MRI, x-ray, ultrasound, angiography, fluoroscopy and other imaging studies in adults and children. In addition, the department specializes in all modern types of radiation therapy and interventional procedures for the treatment of vascular and oncological diseases.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Radiation Therapy
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric Radiation Therapy ranks among the top German departments specializing in radiation therapy! The department offers all types of modern radiation therapy for the treatment of various benign and malignant diseases. The focus is on multimodal interdisciplinary therapy of lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, sarcomas, malignant lymphomas and tumors in children. The stereotactic radiation therapy is available in the department for the targeted treatment of brain tumors. The department treats more than 1,500 inpatients and about 4,300 outpatients every year, which is the indisputable evidence of the outstanding quality of provided medical services.
Department of Radiation Therapy
The Department of Radiation Therapy provides patients with the full range of services in this medical field. The primary focus of the department's clinical practice is the conduction of modern types of radiation therapy for treating malignant diseases. The department's specialists also successfully carry out combination treatments, such as radioimmunotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. The department is part of the Cancer Center at the University Hospital Saarland Homburg, which allows radiation therapists to cooperate closely with oncologists, surgeons, and other specialists, providing comprehensive cancer treatment. The department's team of doctors also treats patients with some benign inflammatory diseases. The department's patients most often receive outpatient medical care. There are 24 beds available to accommodate patients in the department. The pride of the department is the advanced technical equipment that allows the specialists to perform high-precision and efficient irradiation. The treatment takes place in a modern building, in the design of which great importance was attached to creating a comfortable environment for the patient. The department admits more than 1,500 patients who receive high-quality European-level treatment every year.
Department of Radiation Therapy
The Department of Radiation Therapy offers the full range of irradiation procedures for benign and malignant diseases. The department has advanced equipment and highly qualified personnel, which allows providing patients with medical services meeting the highest international standards. The department's specialists have two Varian linear accelerators with a built-in CT scanner with a conical beam and RapidArc technology, Siemens Somatom Definition AS CT scanner for radiation therapy planning, Varian GammaMed iX system for contact radiation therapy using the afterloading technique, Zeiss IntraBeam X-ray therapy device for intraoperative radiation therapy for breast cancer, X-Strahl 200 X-ray therapy device, Varian device for precise positioning of patients before radiation therapy and other equipment. State-of-the-art equipment guarantees high-precision irradiation with minimal damage to healthy tissues. Cancer treatment is of particular interest to the team of the department's radiation therapists. In addition, the department's specialists successfully carry out irradiation for inflammatory joint diseases with severe pain syndrome. The doctors of the medical facility cooperate closely with oncologists and other doctors of related specialties.
Astrocytomas mostly have intracranial localization. However, in rare cases, this tumor may develop in the spinal cord. Since the incidence of pathology is low, doctors in most countries almost never encounter it. This is one of the reasons for unsatisfactory treatment results. Nonetheless, you can always get treatment abroad. Some German hospitals treat spinal astrocytomas quite regularly, as they admit patients from all over the world. The doctors who work in these hospitals have successful experience in dealing with this cancer pathology.
Content
- Features of the disease
- Diagnostics
- Radiotherapy possibilities
- Where can patients undergo treatment?
- Arrangement of treatment abroad
Features of the disease
When compared with other tumors of intramedullary localization, spinal astrocytomas are relatively rare diseases of the central nervous system. Based on the frequency of occurrence, they are second after ependymomas. These tumors are more common for men. The disease can also develop in childhood.
The most frequent location of this intramedullary tumor is cervical spinal cord. It can rarely affect thoracic spine, whereas other localizations are extremely rare.
Unlike intracranial astrocytoma growing from brain cells, the spinal variant of this tumor is most often poorly differentiated. However, well-differentiated tumors also occur. In children, their rate form the total number of astrocytomas is 12%. This number is approximately the same or little more in adults.
Diagnostics
The diagnostics is based on MRI. Before the widespread introduction of this technique, computed tomography was used. However, MRI is much more effective. Magnetic resonance diagnostics allows not only to imagine tumors, but also using special studies (MR spectroscopy) to determine with a high degree of probability that this is astrocytoma, but not any other tumor. In this case, treatment can begin without the histological diagnostics. The study will be performed after tumor removal.
Radiotherapy possibilities
Despite the intramedullary localization, the tumor can be completely removed in many patients. At the same time, this will not lead to a significant neurological deficit.
In most cases, the tumor cannot be removed totally, because there is no clear border with healthy tissue. Spinal astrocytoma is characterized by infiltrative growth. In some cases, total removal would result in the significant neurological deficit.
Therefore, in case of the surgical treatment preference is given to subtotal or partial removal. To increase the relapse-free period, doctors prescribe postoperative irradiation. In some patients, radiation therapy becomes the primary method of treatment and can be used without surgery.
The effectiveness of treatment can be quite different. It essentially depends on:
- treatment options used (neoplasm removal, radiation therapy);
- removal technique (total, subtotal, partial);
- patient's age (in children, the relapse-free period is longer than in adults, whereas in young people, life expectancy after surgery is longer than in elderly patients);
- neurological status before treatment;
- histological type of astrocytoma;
- the medical facility where the patient had treatment and the methods used (if medicine in your country is poorly developed, treatment abroad is often more effective).
Where can patients undergo treatment?
The Booking Health company can arrange your diagnostics and treatment abroad. Germany offers many good hospitals specializing in neurosurgery and neuro-oncology. There are constantly conducted clinical trials, developed new treatments. The doctors use various operations and methods of radiation therapy, which affect astrocytoma cells but have a minimal effect on the healthy tissues.
If you want to use the best available astrocytoma treatment options or take part in clinical trials, you can consider one of these hospitals:
Gamma Knife and Radiotherapy Center Krefeld. The hospital specializes in the treatment of both intracranial and spinal neoplasms. Small neoplasm can be removed using non-surgical techniques, namely stereotactic radiosurgery.
University Hospital Halle. According to the Focus magazine, the hospital ranks among the best in Germany specializing in radiation therapy for oncological pathologies. It uses modern methods of irradiation, which allow for the reduced size of astrocytomas without a severe neurological deficit after the procedure.
University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden. The Department of Radiation Therapy, Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy offers the most advanced treatments for intracranial and spinal tumors. It conducts clinical trials and timely introduces innovations in the field of neuro-oncology.
Arrangement of treatment abroad
Booking Health provides services for organizing treatment abroad. Thanks to our work, you can undergo therapy in the best hospitals in the world at an affordable price. We will take the full responsibility for the organization of your trip, whereas you will only have to concentrate on restoring your health. Our services and benefits include:
- Selection of the hospital, which doctors have sufficient and successful experience in treating spinal cord astrocytomas.
- Establishment of communication with the physician who deals with the therapy of this pathology.
- Preparation of the examination program without repeating previously performed diagnostic procedures.
- Reduced cost of treatment of cancer due to the lack of coefficients for foreign patients.
- Appointment with the doctor at the suitable dates for you.
- Control of the diagnostic and treatment program.
- Assistance in buying and forwarding medicines.
- Control of invoices and return of unspent funds.
- Communication with the hospital upon treatment completion.
- Organization of additional examinations.
Booking Health provides high quality services. Our staff will book a hotel and airline tickets for you, help you draw up documents for traveling abroad. We will meet you at the airport, take to the hospital, provide interpreting services for comfortable communication with the physician and hospital staff.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
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