Specialized medical services

Isotope therapy is a method of therapeutic intervention in which radioactive isotopes (RI) are administered orally or intravenously, exerting a therapeutic effect by directly irradiating tumor lesions from within. Currently, the Isotope Therapy Center is equipped to perform the following treatments.

• I-131 sodium iodide internal therapy for thyroid cancer
• Lu-177 DOTATATE therapy (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy; PRRT) (trade name: Lutathera) for neuroendocrine tumors
• I-131 MIBG therapy (trade name: Raiatt) for pheochromocytoma and other conditions

Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and radiologic technologists from multiple departments collaborate to provide the optimal isotope therapy for each patient.

Features

In isotope therapy, the primary effect of killing tumor cells comes from beta rays, but gamma rays, which have a longer range and can easily penetrate the body and objects, are also emitted. Therefore, it is possible that people around the patient could also be affected by radiation. From standpoint of radiation protection, the patient must be hospitalized in the radiation therapy room in the isotope ward on the 3rd floor East until the radiation emitted outside the body meets the safe discharge criteria.

Considerations in referring your patients to the Isotope Therapy Center

The center is operated with the collaboration of multiple clinical departments. To refer patients from outside the hospital, please make an initial appointment with the appropriate clinical department through the Patient Support Center. If unsure which clinical department to refer the patient to, please consult Nuclear Medicine or Radiotherapy.