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Radiation

Irradiation (so-called radiotherapy) is one of the standard methods of oncological treatment. It is performed by an oncologist specializing in radiotherapy, the so-called radiotherapist. Irradiation takes place at the irradiation facilities in the New Pediatric Oncology Building.

 

Effect?

Radiation rays kill tumor cells in the irradiated area. The effect of irradiation is local.

 

Radiation dose

According to the type of disease, the patient's age and other indicators, the patient is calculated on the total radiation dose required to eliminate the tumor. This dose is divided into several smaller doses, so-called fractions.

 

Method of irradiation?

The goal of radiotherapy is to hit a precisely calculated area. The area to be irradiated is computer-focused before starting your own radiotherapy using a special CT device (so-called planning CT).

In young non-cooperating children, daily general anesthesia is necessary for the smooth running of this treatment, which usually worries parents of pediatric patients. However, the sleep of a small child is a condition for irradiating the actual area of ​​the tumor (so-called irradiation field) and reducing the risk of exposure of the surrounding structures to dangerous radiation.

 

Irradiation scheme?

Radiation is usually given once a day from Monday to Friday for several weeks. At each visit to the radiation room, the patient is given one dose of radiation, or fraction. If a public holiday interferes with the radiation schedule, the fraction must be replaced at the end of radiotherapy. The total dose of radiation is administered to the patient in individual fractions over the course of several, approximately 4-8 weeks.

 

Importance?

Irradiation is a type of topical treatment - it works only in the irradiated area, unlike chemotherapy, which penetrates the blood and its effects affect the whole organism. Chemotherapy is of limited importance in brain tumors, as many cytostatics have difficulty penetrating brain tissue due to the so-called blood-brain barrier.

Irradiation of the area after tumor removal thus represents one of the few treatment options. In addition, surgical removal is not possible in some brain tumors due to the location of the tumor near vital centers of the nervous system.

 

Side effects?

Radiotherapy can eradicate the disease, but unfortunately it is not without side effects. The radiation doses also partially affect the structures near the irradiation field due to the natural scattering of the radiation beam.