Manipal Hospitals Goa performs the first ever Radio-Isotope Therapy and becomes the first centre along Konkan and Goa Region to provide Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine Services
Manipal Hospitals Goa performs the first ever Radio-isotope Therapy. Manipal Hospitals Goa has been the only Hospital in the state to provide diagnostic Nuclear Medicine services since 13 years. With commissioning of Radioactive Isolation facility, it has now become the first centre along Konkan and Goa region to provide Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine services.
High dose Radio-iodine treatment is used for treatment of Thyroid cancers after the thyroid surgery. This treatment helps to clear remaining small thyroid tissue after surgery which if untreated may lead to recurrence of thyroid cancer. This treatment requires special facility known as Radioactive Isolation facility with Bio Safety lab made of lead.
At Manipal Hospitals, Nuclear Medicine Team, led by Dr Pankaj Mhatre treated first 2 patients with Radioiodine. Both patients were operated cases of Thyroid cancer referred for this specialized treatment. Diagnostic scan was performed to map the extent of cancer before the treatment and subsequently treatment was administered following various radiation safety precautions.
Dr.Pankaj Mhatre –Consultant Nuclear Medicine at Manipal Hospitals Goa said, ‘’Nuclear Medicine is a diagnostic and therapeutic modality where different types of radio-isotopes are used for diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. We were already performing various diagnostic studies, however with the initiation of Therapeutic services; we have opened huge number of opportunities for various Radionuclide therapies in the future. With Radioiodine treatment, chances of recurrence of Thyroid Cancer reduce significantly and follow up of patients becomes easy.
We have a fantastic Oncology team consisting of Dr.Shekhar Salkar, Chief, Oncology services, Dr Eugene Rent-Consultant Surgical Oncologist, Dr Gunjan Baijal-Consultant Radiation Oncologist, Dr Jacob George- Consultant Medical Oncologist, Dr.Mahadeva Swamy-Consultant Hemato-oncologist (who recently performed first ever Bone Marrow Transplant of the state), Dr Ashwini Kshirsagar-Consultant Pathologist and Dr Charudutta Sambhaji- Consultant Diagnostic/interventional Radiologist and Endovascular Surgeon. With support of this entire team, I am certain in future, cancer patients of Goa would be immensely benefitted and won’t have to travel far for various treatments.”
Dr.Shekhar Salkar- HOD Oncology Department at Manipal Hospitals Goa Said ‘At Manipal Hospitals Goa “I am extremely happy that “Radio Isotope Therapy” [RIT] for the complete treatment of patients with “Thyroid Cancer” has commenced. This treatment facility in Dept. of nuclear Medicine will be an addition to existing depths of surgical , medical , radiation oncology ,immunohistochemistry for cancer markers and histopathology in Dept. of onco pathology, bone marrow transplant in haemato oncology as part of our “Comprehensive Cancer Care treatment”.
Mr.Manish Trivedi, Hospital Director, Manipal Hospitals Goa said “At Manipal Hospitals Goa we are pleased to continue adding more services to the existing specialities of medicine for the patients. We are glad to announce the commencement of “Radio-Isotope Therapy” for patients suffering from thyroid cancer . We are happy that this new facility is made available for the people of Goa and neighbouring areas for the very first time.
