CREMONA – Radiotherapy is an indispensable tool for the treatment of tumors, managed in a multidisciplinary context. Every year, the Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine department of the Cremona ASST takes care of about one thousand people, for a total of 60-70 daily services.
“These are cancer patients – he explains the head physician Sandro Tonoli – which have various types of tumors, located in almost all areas of the body. Breast cancer is among the most relevant, followed by urological and lung cancers, head and neck, gastrointestinal and gynecological systems, central nervous system and lymphomas ».
The coach Rossella Gueli and the primary Tonoli are studying an exam
Over the last few years the department has been equipped with new equipment, for a total investment of 6 million euros. These include a linear accelerator, new computational systems for radiotherapy algorithms and a multi-layer CT simulator with 4D technology. The latter was acquired last year and entered into operation in October 2021: “Specifically – continues Tonoli – the CT scan allowed a qualitative leap with the introduction of immobilization systemswhich allow us to increase the degree of precision with which we prepare patients undergoing radiation treatment ».
TARGETED INTERVENTIONS WITH TAC
As the head physician points out, “the new CT scan is created for radiotherapy: it has a centering system with mobile lasers that allow correct patient positioning and the use of immobilization systems, thanks to the indexed table and the greater width of the gantry, i.e. the opening in the center of the CT scan. It is integrated with a 4D system that allows the analysis of the movement of the target, especially if subjected to physiological movements, such as the lungs or abdominal organs. This allows to accurately estimate the movements of the tumor target over time, therefore to operate with safety and precision ».
The head physician Sandro Tonolil
MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
As is known, the treatment of tumors requires a multidisciplinary approach, which can combine surgery and radiotherapy both in the preoperative and subsequent phases. “The request for radiotherapy interventions is quite extensive – Tonoli concludes – however, there is the impression that a part of the population does not access services because they are not aware of this type of treatment and the results it can bring “.
