Edward Van Dyk, MD
Edward Van Dyk, MD Practice Name: Alton Mem Hosp Cancer Center Age: 43 Gender: Male Foreign Languages: Dutch, Spanish In Area Since: 2005 In Practice Since: 2001
Cancer Care Center Adds Latest Imaging Technology -- 618.433.7979 New technology allows radiation oncologist to target cancer
February 1, 2006 -- Organs affected by cancer -- like the prostate and bladder -- can shift in the body and change in size from day to day, making it difficult to target them precisely with radiation treatment. New image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) equipment at Alton Memorial Hospital's Cancer Care Center enables the treatment team to more accurately pinpoint a tumor's exact location each day before treatment begins. By using this procedure, healthy tissue around the cancer is spared.
The Cancer Care Center is one of the first facilities in the St. Louis region to add the IGRT equipment that uses ultrasound technology to pinpoint the tumor's location before each radiation therapy treatment. IGRT will be used initially for the treatment of prostate and bladder cancers.
"Before IGRT came along, there was still a lot of judgment and interpretation in locating tumors," says Edward Van Dyk, MD, medical director of radiation oncology at the Cancer Care Center. "Many organs have some amount of movement each day. For instance, the bladder can change size depending on how full it is, and hormone therapy can affect prostate size. IGRT allows daily treatment updates. We can see what the tumor or organ looks like and where exactly it is each day so we can better target the tumor or organ."
IGRT treatment requires just a few minutes before each daily radiation treatment to locate precisely the cancerous area on the bladder or prostate to ensure that the radiation is accurately targeted. Patients had been having X-rays or CT scans before the beginning of radiation treatment to locate the cancerous area. Radiation oncologists then planned the daily treatments using coordinates based on where the tumor should be.
"Up until now we were matching ultrasounds with CT scans, and that was a little funny because they don't look the same," says Dr. Van Dyk. "Treatment had to allow for a margin of motion, which meant more tissue was being irradiated, including normal tissue. With IGRT, we have the confidence to treat a smaller volume of tissue. Less normal tissue is affected, so radiation is better tolerated."
Cancer Care Center manager Stacey Ballard says the Center's treatment team began using the IGRT technology in January. Alton Memorial Hospital -- among the first 40 health-care facilities in the United States to install the equipment -- invested $270,000 in the IGRT technology to improve cancer care in the River Bend area.
Because IGRT equipment combines ultrasound and radiation technology, it takes a well-trained, experienced health-care professional to operate the equipment. "One of our radiation therapists is also an experienced ultrasonographer," says Ballard. "You don't find that skillful combination very often. We're very fortunate to have a highly trained and experienced team of radiation therapists, nurses, physicists and dosimetrists working with Dr. Van Dyk to treat our patients."
Dr. Van Dyk says that the greater accuracy offered by IGRT should lead to better outcomes for patients, although he's not sure yet if the technology will mean fewer radiation treatments. "That's something to be contemplated," says Dr. Van Dyk. "But with less normal tissue affected, the radiation is better tolerated. It's a smoother ride for the patient and is expected to allow for a higher and more effective dose."
The Cancer Care Center opened last February, allowing cancer patients in the River Bend area a convenient location for their oncology treatment.
"It's an important trend in radiation treatment to help us gain more precision. Over time the system likely will be adapted for other sites in the body, such as the head and neck," says Dr. Van Dyk.
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Alton Memorial Hospital One Memorial Drive Alton, Illinois 62002 618.463.7311