ONCOLOGY OVERVIEW

What is Thermal Ablation?

Thermal ablation is a generic term for a hot or cold treatment for disease in tissue, bone, or organs. It may also be known by a specific name: Radiofrequency ablation (heat), Microwave ablation (heat), or Cryotherapy (cold). It is a minimally invasive treatment for cancer and other tumors.

What is Radiolembolization (Y-90)?

Radioembolization is the administration of ionizing into the liver, with the intent to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radioembolization involves placing the radioactive material, yttrium 90, directly inside the body.

What is Chemoembolization (TACE)?

Chemoembolization is the administration of a chemotherapeutic agent directly into the blood vessels of the liver with the intent to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Chemoembolization places anti-cancer drugs directly into the blood vessel feeding the cancer, rather than the entire blood system, as in traditional chemotherapy.

What is Radiofrequency Alblation (RFA)?

Radiofrequency ablation, also known as RFA, is a minimally invasive treatment for cancer and other tumors. It is an image-guided technique that uses heat to destroy cancer cells. The procedure is performed by an Interventional radiologist, who is a physician that specializes in this type of treatment.

THERANOSTICS

Theranostics combines molecular imaging with radiotheranostics (sometimes referred to as Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT)) which are injectable radiopharmaceuticals with antitumor effects. Spect CT imaging is utilized in staging and follow up to visualize the effectiveness of the treatment and progress in reducing or eliminating cancerous tumor cells.

LUTATHERA

LUTATHERA is a prescription treatment for adults with specific types of cancer. The therapy is delivered via intravenous infusion and is designed to attach to targeted cancer cells. Once delivered, LUTATHERA introduces radiation to the tumor damaging the targeted cells. Until recently, local patients were required to travel to a large medical center outside the region to receive this therapy.  LUTATHERA is now available to patients in the Inland Northwest through the Nuclear Medicine and Interventional Radiology Departments at Inland Imaging.