Radiation Oncology

Overview

Radiation oncologists at Mayo Clinic provide care for malignant diseases in Jacksonville, Fla., Rochester, Minn. and Arizona. More than 30 radiation oncologists practice at Mayo, providing expert care to more than 2,000 patients annually.

The radiation oncology specialty is closely tied to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, which offers patients distinguished programs in cancer diagnosis, prevention, treatment, basic and clinical research and community outreach. Radiation oncologists work closely with medical oncologists, surgeons and other physicians to coordinate optimal care for each cancer patient.

Patients who choose Mayo Clinic for their radiation oncology needs will experience an extensive treatment-planning process in which the radiotherapy is tailored to meet the patients unique needs. Two- and three-dimensional treatment planning systems help dosimetrists and physicists to develop localized treatment that avoid normal tissue. Simulators also help radiation oncologists to test the plans before treatment begins.

Services provided through the radiation oncology specialty at Mayo Clinic include consultations, follow-up treatment and clinical studies for brain, breast, head and neck, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecologic and lung cancers. Treatment protocols also are available for melanoma and sarcoma.

At Mayo Clinic, one institutional review board approves research protocols, or clinical studies, for all Mayo group practices. Clinical trials are often offered in cooperation with associations such as the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and the Gynecologic Oncology Group.

Specialty radiation oncology services offered at one or more Mayo Clinic locations include:

• Brachytherapy (radioactive seed implants) and intravascular brachytherapy
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
• Intraoperative radiation therapy (with HDR and linear accelerators)
• Multidisciplinary treatment combining radiation with surgery and chemotherapy
• Radiofrequency ablation of tumors
• Radiolabeled antibody treatment
• Small field conformal radiation therapy
• Sterotactic radiosurgery for neurological abnormalities (in conjunction with Neurosurgery)
  
  • Gamma Knife™ radiosurgery
• Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy
• Whole-body radiation therapy in conjunction with the bone marrow transplant program