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Section of Radiation Oncology
The Section of Radiation Oncology is a newly commissioned unit and is located in the Ibn Zuhr Building, a comprehensive cancer management facility located near the main hospital entrance and adjacent to the Nazerali-Walji Building. With the addition of Radiation Therapy Services, AKUH is now uniquely positioned to provide the most comprehensive cancer management services available in the region. The Hospital provided radiotherapy services to its first patient on February 20, 2006.
Cancer patients are being treated at this facility with state-of-the-art equipment and planning system, which ensures delivery of meticulously well-planned radiotherapy with the highest level of precision and quality. The following equipments are used in this service:
- Two Linear Accelerators – Varian;
- Photon and Electron Energies;
- Multi-Leaf Collimation (MLC);
- Simulator - Varian Acuity;
- Eclipse Treatment Planning System;
- 3-Dimensional Conformal CT Planning;
- High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy.
The section has three highly qualified and experienced consultant radiation oncologists. Treatment planning is a combined effort between the oncologists and the physics/dosimetry team. The radiation oncology team consists of the following:
Radiation Oncologists
Medical Physics
- Chief Medical Physicist;
- Senior Medical Physicists;
- Dosimetrists.
Radiation Therapy Technologists (RTT)
Registered Nurses
Administration
- Manager of Oncology and Special Projects;
- Administrative support staff.
The Radiation Oncology section works closely with other faculty members of the University. Radiation Oncology has close links with the Department of Radiology and Section of Medical Oncology. Consultation clinics are held from Monday to Thursday where patients are assessed and treatment options are discussed with patients and their families. Following the consultation visit, booking for planning commences, e.g. simulation, mould room, computer planning, etc., in preparation for the start of the treatments.
In collaboration with the Postgraduate Medical Education Department, a residency programme is being formulated for developing future specialists in radiation oncology. An approval from the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan is being pursued. A training programme for Radiation Therapy Technologists will commence soon.
The section of Radiation Oncology will be involved in research through participation in extra-mural as well as in-house clinical trials. A database will be accrued through the establishment of a Hospital-based cancer registry.
Mailing Address:
Section of Radiation Oncology
Ibn Zuhr Oncology Building
Aga Khan University Hospital
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500
Karachi 74800 – Pakistan.
Fax: 92 21 493 4294, 493 2095
Telephone: 92 21 486 1880 or 493 0051 Ext. 1880
Website: www.aku.edu
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