Welcome | Department of Radiation Oncology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine

Welcome to our homepage. I am Kazuhiko Ogawa, Professor and Chairman of Radiation Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University.

In our department, we perform external X-ray or electron-beam irradiation using a linear accelerator (linac) on patients with various types of malignant tumors. We also proactively carry out linac-based high-resolution irradiation therapy (stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)). We also conduct internal irradiation, which involves inserting a sealed radioactive isotope into the tissue of a head and neck carcinoma lesion or prostate cancer lesion, and intracavitary irradiation through insertion of a sealed radioactive isotope into the uterus.

Conventionally, brachytherapy has required isolation of patients in an isotope ward. We apply high dose brachytherapy, which is superior to brachytherapy in that a radiation source may be remotely inserted, to patients with uterine cancer, as well as head and neck cancers or prostate cancer. For this reason, patients may be hospitalized in the general ward without the need for isolation. Brachytherapy, in addition, is performed on patients with prostate cancer by means of permanent insertion of an iodine-125 seed.

CyberKnife is a robot-based stereotactic radiosurgery unit. With a system for checking the position of a patient integrated, the robot is capable of conducting irradiation while tracking any movement of the patient during treatment. Conventional stereotactic radiosurgical procedures have required fixing a metal frame to the skull with screws for correct irradiation. In contrast, CyberKnife has eliminated the need for fixation. At present, CyberKnife may be used only to treat brain and head and neck lesions. We plan in the future to apply it to patients with disease in the body trunk such as the lung and liver, which can not be treated by this unit at present.

Presently, stereotactic radiosurgery is performed on patients with pulmonary tumors using linac. In addition, we carry out linac-based IMRT on patients with prostate cancer, head and neck carcinoma, and cervical cancer.