CLINIC

Radiation therapy is the use of ionizing radiation to treat malignant tumors and certain non-malignant conditions. It is one of the principal treatment modalities for cancer. In developed countries, more than half of patients diagnosed with malignant neoplasms receive radiation therapy at some point during their treatment.

In certain cases—for example, in the treatment of skin, lower lip, head and neck tumors, esophageal cancer, and cervical cancer—radiation therapy may serve as the primary or sole treatment modality, providing complete remission in a significant proportion of patients. In other cases, radiation therapy is used as an adjuvant treatment in combination with other treatment modalities, or as palliative therapy aimed at prolonging life and improving quality of life.

Technical Equipment and Clinical Services

The most commonly used form of radiation therapy is external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), in which radiation is delivered using specialized equipment positioned at a certain distance from the patient's body.

The External Beam Radiation Therapy Department of the National Center of Oncology is the only department in Armenia providing modern approaches to external beam radiation therapy. It was also the first center in Armenia to introduce radioiodine therapy, one of the modern and highly effective approaches to the treatment of thyroid diseases.

The Center is the only institution in Armenia where the Iodine-131 radioisotope-based medicinal product used for this treatment is manufactured by a leading European pharmaceutical company and is considered among the highest-quality products available worldwide.

The Department is equipped with modern radiation therapy technologies and systems, including:

• ELEKTA Compact linear accelerator (2013) — a Swedish-manufactured accelerator system that enables full three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), which remains a guideline-based approach for the radiation treatment of many malignant tumors. The accelerator is equipped with a multileaf collimator (MLC), allowing radiation beams to be shaped according to the size and geometry of the tumor while maximizing protection of surrounding healthy tissues.
• TERABALT cobalt gamma therapy unit (2006) — a Czech-manufactured system known for its reliability and, in many clinical situations, offering an effective and accessible treatment option for a range of tumors. The system was fully upgraded in 2014 with a digital control system.
• Orthovoltage X-ray therapy unit — particularly advantageous for the irradiation of superficial pathological lesions and widely used in the treatment of skin neoplasms and certain benign and non-malignant conditions.

Each patient receives an individualized treatment plan developed in accordance with international clinical guidelines.

Radiation Therapy Planning and Simulation

For radiation therapy preparation and treatment planning, the Department is equipped with modern high-technology systems, including:

• CT simulator — Siemens Somatom Emotion (2014)
• Conventional simulator — Simulix (2002)
• Oncentra MasterPlan radiation treatment planning system for 3D conformal radiation therapy
• Terraplan radiation treatment planning system for 2D–2.5D radiation therapy

Approximately 1,300 oncology patients receive radiation therapy in the Department annually. Patients are treated for tumors of various sites, including the brain, head and neck, breast, thoracic organs, soft tissues, bones, genitourinary organs, abdominal organs, as well as hematologic malignancies.

Radiation therapy is provided as a standalone treatment, in combination with other treatment modalities, or as part of a comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment plan.

International Cooperation and Professional Development

The Department maintains close cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a number of other leading international organizations, continuously working to introduce the best international practices and approaches in radiation oncology in Armenia.

Cooperation programs with the IAEA have significantly contributed to the modernization of the Department's technical capabilities and have enabled physicians and medical physicists to undergo multiple training programs abroad.

The high level of professionalism of the Department's team has also gained international recognition. In recent years, the Department has been entrusted with organizing one- to three-month professional training programs for international specialists at the National Center of Oncology with IAEA support. Department physicians have also participated as expert lecturers in international programs organized by the IAEA and other international organizations.

The Department's physicians are actively involved in scientific and educational programs, regularly participate in national and international scientific and scientific-practical events, and are members of leading professional organizations, including ESTRO, ESMO, ASCO, and others.

Radioiodine Therapy for Thyroid Cancer

In February 2019, Armenia's first radioiodine treatment program for thyroid cancer using radioactive iodine (I-131) was introduced at the Radiation Oncology Department of the National Center of Oncology.

During the Soviet period, radioiodine treatment was provided in the Russian Federation, Belarus, and Ukraine. In subsequent years, Armenian patients seeking radioiodine therapy traveled to Georgia and other countries to receive treatment.

Today, the Department provides all the necessary conditions for radioiodine therapy in accordance with current international standards, including modern equipment, comfortable inpatient facilities, and up-to-date international treatment approaches.

Tel.: +374 10 205050, extension 203