Technological Advances
PET/MRI
The Nuclear Medicine Department of HM Hospitales Group, led by Dr. Lina García Cañamaque, is equipped with state-of-the-art Nuclear Medicine techniques for both tumor diagnosis (PET/MRI, PET/CT, scintigraphy with 99mTc, 67Ga, 123-I-MIBG) and treatment.
Nuclear Medicine is used in oncology for initial tumor staging as well as for follow-up (assessment of treatment response and detection of relapse). It is a “functional” imaging technique in which a radioactive biological tracer is injected and its distribution throughout the body is detected using specialized imaging systems. Although it provides limited morphological detail, it offers highly valuable information regarding the tumor’s metabolic activity—data that cannot be obtained through other imaging modalities.
Radiation Therapy
The Radiation Oncology Department, led by Dr. María del Carmen Rubio, is located at CIOCC and includes highly qualified Radiation Oncologists, Medical Physicists, Radiation Therapists, and specialized Nursing and Administrative staff.
The department has extensive experience in pediatric radiation therapy. When anesthesia is required, treatment is coordinated with pediatric anesthesiologists.
Facilities include a Virtual Simulation Unit (CT Simulation), two Oncor Linear Accelerators, a NOVALIS Linear Accelerator with image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and a Novalis 6D Robotic Couch, as well as a fully equipped operating room for intraoperative procedures.
This allows the delivery of:
- 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT)
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
- Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT)
- Total Body Irradiation (TBI)
- Cranial and Extracranial Radiosurgery with Respiratory Gating
- Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy
- Brachytherapy Techniques
Neurosurgical Operating Room
Team led by Dr. Jorge Diamantopoulus
The RGS Neurosurgery Unit is equipped with operating rooms featuring the highest current technological standards, including advanced microsurgical equipment, stereotactic guidance systems, image integration and neuronavigation platforms, ultrasonic aspirators, bipolar coagulation and cutting systems, high-speed surgical drills, and specialized instruments for transsphenoidal or transoral approaches, in addition to the standard equipment of a modern neurosurgical theater. The unit also has comprehensive intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring systems.
131-I-MIBG Therapy
The Unit is one of the few centers in Spain performing high-dose 131-I-MIBG therapy for neuroblastoma, a technique that has become an essential therapeutic tool in its management.
Personalized Medicine
Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
High-dose chemotherapy regimens in oncology are based on the concept of dose intensity and tumor cell response.
It has been demonstrated that tumors unresponsive to standard chemotherapy doses may achieve remission when significantly higher doses are administered.
When high-dose chemotherapy is delivered, hematopoietic progenitor cells must be administered to restore bone marrow function.
Progenitor cells are collected in advance through mobilization and apheresis. This entire procedure is referred to as autologous transplantation, or more precisely, high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell support.
The physician responsible for pediatric autologous transplants is Dr. Jaime Pérez de Oteyza, Head of the Hematology Department at HM Sanchinarro University Hospital. Dr. Pérez de Oteyza leads the HM Transplant Unit and oversees progenitor cell collection (apheresis) and cryopreservation.