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Newly
Renovated Radiation Oncology Center
Now Open at Shadyside Hospital
Shadyside
Hospital announces the opening of the newly renovated Mary Hillman
Jennings Radiation Oncology Center (MHJROC), a hospital-based
facility that provides radiation oncology services for patients
who have been diagnosed with cancer.
In addition
to making significant and technological strides forward with the
installation of new, state-of-the-art treatment planning and delivery
systems, the center now provides patients with enhanced ease of
access and comfort, and a greater level of user-friendliness.
Patients are now being treated in the new facility.
State of
the Art Technology
The treatment
cornerstone of the facility is its Siemens KD2 linear accelerator.
Shadyside Hospital is the first clinical site in the US to use
Siemens' multileaf collimation system (MLC), and the hospital's
physics staff is working with Siemens as a Beta test site for
the MLC and associated features of the KD2 Linac.
"The linear
accelerator produces two photon energies and six electron energies,
and provides the capability to treat all superficial and deep
seated tumors," said radiologist Russell Fuhrer, MD, medical director
of the MHJROC. "The multileaf collimator enables individual shaping
of treatment fields by moving any or all of the 58 leaves located
inside the head of the linear accelerator," said Dr. Fuhrer.
The Linac
is also equipped with online portal imaging that provides real-time
verification of the shape and positioning of radiation treatment
fields. Another feature of the Siemens system, noted Dr. Fuhrer,
is the Lantis Verify and Record system. "This system verifies
the size, shape and configuration of every treatment field prior
to and during treatment, thus ensuring increased precision, and
facilitates the accurate administration of complicated three-dimensional
treatment plans," said Dr. Fuhrer. He added that the MHJROC will
be used as a showcase site for introduction of new Siemens products.
The hospital
will also be the first clinical site in the US for clinical use
of the ADAC Pinnacle three-dimension treatment planning computer
system. The ADAC system can reconstruct tumor volumes from CT
and calculate optimal radiation doses and field configurations
for three-dimensional treatment delivery. Also, the MHJROC's high
dose rate brachytherapy program for the treatment of endobronchial
lung, endometrial, and esophageal cancer is now encased in its
own shielded vault, enhancing patient and staff scheduling.
Amenities
are User-Friendly
The MHJROC
was redesigned to provide greater ease of access and use for patients.
An elevator in the hospital's main lobby now brings patients directly
into the center's reception area. Adjacent to the reception area
is a comprehensive patient education library containing books,
journal articles, and videotapes on cancer and related subjects.
Patients at
the center for consultation or follow-up are now being seen in
one of three examination rooms that are fully equipped to perform
general examinations, complete head and neck examinations including
direct laryngoscopy, and gynecological examinations. Those coming
for daily treatment are escorted to one of four individual private
waiting rooms.
Besides advanced
clinical services, the center also offers on-site nutritional
and social service consultation to help patients with their specific
needs during and after treatment.
"It is personally
gratifying to see our patients benefiting from the generosity
and hard work that have gone into the development of the MHJROC,"
said Dr. Fuhrer. "Our new facility is one of the premier radiation
oncology centers in the region and a significant step forward
for the oncology program at Shadyside Hospital."
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Copyright © 2003 by John Fries, Pittsburgh, PA.
Please direct all correspondence to JohnFries@aol.com.
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