THE HITT FAMILY CENTER FOR RADIATION ONCOLOGY AT VIRGINIA HOSPITAL CENTER IS RECOGNIZED AMONG THE MOST SOPHISTICATED IN THE COUNTRY. OUR WORLD- RENOWNED, HIGHLY SKILLED SPECIALISTS AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY ATTRACT PATIENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
— Robert Hong, MD
Virginia Hospital Center is the only hospital in the Mid-Atlantic region where plaque brachytherapy is performed — the next closest treatment facility is in Philadelphia.
After experiencing flashes in his vision, Frederick Wehden of Chestertown, MD, went to see his eye doctor. A scan of his eye revealed a tumor, and he was immediately scheduled to see William Deegan, MD, a retina specialist with a subspecialty in ocular oncology. Dr. Deegan performed an ultrasound which revealed a melanoma on the lining of the inside of Frederick’s eye, underneath the retina.
“Melanoma of the eye is a rare cancer, occurring in only about seven people per million each year,” says Dr. Deegan, who is the only ocular oncologist in the Washington, DC metro area and one of only about 12 in the United States.
The symptoms are similar to retinal detachment and include flashes, floaters and distortions in vision. Melanoma of the eye is more common in people with light skin and light-colored irises. Frederick also had a chest X-ray and CT scan of his liver to determine if the cancer had spread. It had not.
Dr. Deegan explained to Frederick that melanoma of the eye can be treated in one of two ways. The eye can be removed surgically or it can be treated with radiation in an eye- and vision-sparing procedure called plaque brachytherapy. Both options have the same survival rate and the same reduced risk of the cancer metastasizing, or spreading, to the liver, lungs and other organs.
In plaque brachytherapy, rice-sized radioactive seeds are attached to a gold or steel disc called a plaque. The surgeon, Dr. Deegan, places the plaque on the eyeball precisely over the tumor; it is held in place with temporary stitches. The seeds slowly emit radiation into the tumor for four to five days. Then the plaque is removed and the tumor disintegrates over time. In 98% of cases, it is effective in killing the tumor; 40% of patients don’t lose any of their vision. Because of the size and location of Frederick’s tumor, Dr. Deegan recommended plaque brachytherapy.
“I was shocked at my diagnosis, but Dr. Deegan was very confident in the effectiveness of radiation therapy treatment,” Frederick says... To read this article, click here.
To read the most recent issue of our Newsletter, click here.
— Robert Hong, MD
Virginia Hospital Center is the only hospital in the Mid-Atlantic region where plaque brachytherapy is performed — the next closest treatment facility is in Philadelphia.
After experiencing flashes in his vision, Frederick Wehden of Chestertown, MD, went to see his eye doctor. A scan of his eye revealed a tumor, and he was immediately scheduled to see William Deegan, MD, a retina specialist with a subspecialty in ocular oncology. Dr. Deegan performed an ultrasound which revealed a melanoma on the lining of the inside of Frederick’s eye, underneath the retina.“Melanoma of the eye is a rare cancer, occurring in only about seven people per million each year,” says Dr. Deegan, who is the only ocular oncologist in the Washington, DC metro area and one of only about 12 in the United States.
The symptoms are similar to retinal detachment and include flashes, floaters and distortions in vision. Melanoma of the eye is more common in people with light skin and light-colored irises. Frederick also had a chest X-ray and CT scan of his liver to determine if the cancer had spread. It had not.
Dr. Deegan explained to Frederick that melanoma of the eye can be treated in one of two ways. The eye can be removed surgically or it can be treated with radiation in an eye- and vision-sparing procedure called plaque brachytherapy. Both options have the same survival rate and the same reduced risk of the cancer metastasizing, or spreading, to the liver, lungs and other organs.
In plaque brachytherapy, rice-sized radioactive seeds are attached to a gold or steel disc called a plaque. The surgeon, Dr. Deegan, places the plaque on the eyeball precisely over the tumor; it is held in place with temporary stitches. The seeds slowly emit radiation into the tumor for four to five days. Then the plaque is removed and the tumor disintegrates over time. In 98% of cases, it is effective in killing the tumor; 40% of patients don’t lose any of their vision. Because of the size and location of Frederick’s tumor, Dr. Deegan recommended plaque brachytherapy.
“I was shocked at my diagnosis, but Dr. Deegan was very confident in the effectiveness of radiation therapy treatment,” Frederick says... To read this article, click here.
To read the most recent issue of our Newsletter, click here.
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