Radiotherapy for brain metastasis in University Hospital Greifswald

About the department

The Department of Radiation Therapy at the University Hospital Greifswald offers the full range of modern methods of radiation therapy for patients with benign and malignant diseases. Particular attention is paid to radiation therapy for cancer of various localizations. In most cases, irradiation takes place on an outpatient basis. The department is proud of its state-of-the-art technical base, which includes two linear accelerators, ELEKTA Versa HD and ELEKTA Synergy, with digital imaging, the Siemens Definition AS CT scanner, the Philips Pinnacle 3D treatment planning system, the MOSAIQ monitoring system, the Varian Gammamed 12ix device for afterloading therapy, stereotaxic Brainlab equipment, and many other innovative devices that allow doctors to perform efficient irradiation. The images are uploaded to the picture archiving and communication system so that specialists from different departments can quickly access patient data. The department's radiation therapists accurately plan each radiation procedure in order to achieve the most effective result. The department uses the very latest types of radiation therapy, which allow the doctors to maximally affect the target area with virtually no harm to healthy adjacent organs and anatomical structures. The Head Physician of the department is Dr. med. Elke Asse. 

External beam radiation therapy is most often performed in the department. During the procedure, an external device directs high-energy beams to a pathological focus in the body. External beam radiation therapy includes 3D conformal radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, and stereotactic radiation therapy. Each of the above-mentioned irradiation techniques has the highest accuracy, which allows doctors to deliver a high dose of radiation directly to the oncological focus while healthy tissues are not affected. The specialists thus achieve excellent therapeutic results with minimal side effects.

The department's team of doctors has rich clinical experience in stereotactic radiation therapy for brain tumors. The main difference of this therapy lies in the single application of a precisely targeted high dose of radiation. Stereotactic radiation therapy is highly effective and practically does not affect healthy tissues, due to which the risk of side effects is negligible. High-precision targeting of radiation to a malignant tumor in the brain is carried out under CT or MRI imaging guidance. Such treatment is usually indicated for patients with hard-to-reach malignant brain tumors or for patients with contraindications to classical surgery.

The department's specialists also successfully carry out brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy). This type of radiation therapy provides patients with high accuracy and allows doctors to deliver a radiation source directly to the tumor. Brachytherapy ensures a targeted effect on the neoplasm without any adverse effect on adjacent healthy structures, and therefore such an approach has a significant advantage over other radiation therapy methods. The department most often uses the following types of brachytherapy: intravaginal, intrauterine, and intraluminal. Depending on the aggressiveness of the neoplasm, the department's specialists may prescribe low-dose or high-dose internal radiation therapy to the patient. Brachytherapy is regularly used for uterine, cervical, vaginal, prostate, and esophageal cancers, as well as soft tissue sarcomas. Internal radiation therapy takes about 1-2 hours and is performed under general or local anesthesia. Brachytherapy is highly effective and well tolerated, including by elderly people with comorbidities. At the same time, the procedure practically does not cause any severe side effects, and a patient can return home on the day of the procedure.

The department's doctors also specialize in radiation therapy for benign diseases: degenerative changes in muscles at the sites of their attachment to the bone, heel spurs, Achilles tendon inflammation, arthrosis, and other pathologies. Radiation therapy for the above-mentioned benign diseases can effectively eliminate pain. As a rule, the procedure is carried out several times a week and lasts about 30 seconds. This is completely painless. Side effects are quite rare due to the use of low doses of radiation, which is a significant advantage for patients.

The department's main clinical activities include:

• Radiation therapy for malignant diseases
  • External beam radiation therapy
    • 3D conformal radiation therapy
    • Intensity-modulated radiation therapy
    • Image-guided radiation therapy
    • Volumetric modulated arc therapy
    • Stereotactic radiotherapy
    • Total body irradiation
    • Afterloading technique
  • Internal radiation therapy
    • Brachytherapy: intravaginal, intrauterine, and intraluminal
  • Radiochemotherapy for tumors of various localizations: esophageal, lung, rectal, ENT cancers, etc.
• Radiation therapy for benign diseases: heel spurs, Achilles tendon inflammation, arthrosis, etc.
• Other types of radiation therapy