In a groundbreaking achievement, Dr Anasua Ganguly Kapoor and her multidisciplinary team at the L V Prasad Eye Institute at Kode Venkatadri Chowdary (KVC) Campus, Vijayawada, have successfully performed the first-ever Plaque Brachytherapy procedure in Andhra Pradesh. Plaque Brachytherapy is a cutting-edge procedure to treat eye cancer.
Plaque brachytherapy is an advanced treatment used primarily for intraocular tumors such as choroidal melanoma, choroidal hemangioma, retinal vascular tumors, and other ocular surface tumors. It is often employed in small to medium sized intraocular tumors to achieve globe salvage or in refractory cases of retinoblastoma where first-line treatments, like laser photocoagulation or systemic therapies, are ineffective.
The operational readiness to perform this procedure was achieved following a four-year process initiated in 2020, that included infrastructure and team development and compliance with Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) regulations.
The procedure necessitated a multidisciplinary team, integrating expertise of an ocular oncologist for tumor assessment and plaque placement, radiation oncologist and radiation physicist to design the dosage of the plaque, an anesthetist to monitor the patient during the procedure, radiation safety officer to ensuring adherence to perioperative and radiation safety protocols and nursing staff. The procedure was a success thanks to their steadfast commitment, meticulous preparation, and seamless collaboration.
The complexity of the procedure was heightened by the precision required to place the plaque accurately to target the tumor while sparing healthy tissue, ensuring radiation safety of both the patient and the medical staff from unnecessary radiation exposure and the seamless collaboration required.
The pre-procedure preparation included
- Mapping the tumor's size and location
- Customization and tailoring the plaque based on the tumor’s dimensions
- Reviewing the radiation safety and surgical protocols and
- Training of all nursing staff and the radiation safety officer to ensure comprehensive safety measures
Valuable support was provided by local radiation oncologists Dr T. Kranthi Kumar at the American Oncology Institute, Vijayawada, Dr Ramakrishna V. at Manipal Hospital, Vijayawada, and Mr. Suresh, radiation physicist at Manipal Hospital. The guidance of Ms. Padma Ganesan, Radiation Physicist and Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Director and Senior Oncologist at Apollo Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, went a long way in the success of the procedure.
The patient was advised to limit close contact particularly with pregnant women and children, for a duration of 7.5 hours, after which the plaque was removed and adhere to regular follow-ups to monitor potential complications, such as radiation retinopathy or tumor regression.
Thanks to the Yalamanchili family for their generous support in establishing the Hima Bindu Yalamanchili Centre for Eye Cancer at the KVC Campus of L V Prasad Eye Institute, world-class eye care is now available at Vijayawada and offers renewed hope to patients with complex ocular tumors.