Posted 1:46 am Wednesday, January 28, 2009
New Technology Helps Treat Lung Cancer, Pulmonary Diseases
By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
The outlook on the battles against lung cancer and other pulmonary diseases is brighter thanks to groundbreaking technology, now available at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, medical officials say.
Although pulmonary brachytherapy -- a noninvasive technique sending high doses of radiation to cancerous tumors -- is offered in a few medical facilities across the country, UTHSCT is one of only two facilities in the world to directly attack tiny cancerous tumors on the edges of the lungs using a combination of advanced technologies. The other facility is in Heidelberg, Germany, officials said.
Members of UTHSCT's 47-member development board and other guests gathered Tuesday morning for an open house and formal dedication of the state-of-the-art pulmonary brachytherapy suite as well as the medical center's revamped 11-room outpatient surgery center.
Dr. Ted McLemore, a renowned interventional pulmonologist and director of interventional pulmonology at UTHSCT, has performed 12 brachytherapy treatments at his Paris clinic and two at UTHSCT.
Interventional Pulmonologist Dr. Ted McLemore, UTHSCT President Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun and Development Board Chairman Herbert Buie cut the ribbon during the open house for the pulmonary brachytherapy suite and 11-room outpatient surgery center.
He said lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer in adults in the United States, killing more people than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. The introduction of new technologies at the medical center is a result of his ongoing efforts to offer something more promising in the oftentimes dismal diagnosis of lung cancer.
"This will open up a whole new realm for lung cancer," McLemore said. "This kind of new technology will offer new hope for lung cancer patients not just in this area but all over the country. We were able to interface three types of technology -- electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy, high resolution CT and high-dose brachytherapy. This is cutting edge for lung cancer treatment, and we are very excited about the possibilities."
Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy acts as a global positioning system to help physicians map a route to the cancerous cells while high resolution CT scans thin cuts of the lungs, giving physicians a 3-D view.
Brachytherapy differs from traditional external radiation in that a tiny pellet is inserted into the sedated patient's mouth or nose using a very thin catheter. While in a shielded room, a robot delivers a capsule with radioactive materials to the concentrated area; before, patients were exposed to powerful energy waves to kill cancer cells via a large machine. Therefore, there is now less destruction of lung functions, fewer side effects and patients have a shorter recovery time. And the procedure lasts less than five minutes, noted Ron Jung, director of radiology at UTHSCT.
Although it is too early to calculate survival rates, brachytherapy shows some promise, McLemore has said.
Dr. Kirk Calhoun, UTHSCT president, lauded the efforts of the development board and employees who made the projects possible during the open house.
"It is all part of our efforts to not only be a local leader, but also a national leader in the diagnosis and treatment of lung disease," he said.
Dr. Calhoun also mentioned ongoing efforts to expand and improve facilities, which includes new signage, remodeling the intensive care unit and renovations to the fifth floor to better accommodate elderly and cancer patients.
"We are just proud to be a part of a great vision that Dr. Calhoun is continuing," said Herbert Buie, development board chairman.
