The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
The unambiguous goal of the MGH Department of Radiation Oncology is to work intensively to substantially increase the proportion of treated patients who are free of tumor and of treatment-related morbidity. There is acute awareness of the high incidence of cancer each year and the fact that we do not achieve our goal of cure in a significant proportion of patients. Thus, we are definitely sensitive...
For the new department, the trustees wanted a program in laboratory research on the effects of radiation on animal cells and tissues, normal and malignant, and the whole organism.
There is no certainty as to the origins of medicine. Well before recorded history, there was surely a wide spectrum of shamans with their sacred herbs and diverse procedures to relieve symptoms and make the “patients” more comfortable with their situation.
The department organized a long series of lobster picnics-feasts from 1980 to 2001 at the exceptionally generous invitation of Senior Nurse Agnes Fiore. These were held at her Cohasset home. This was a splendid arrangement due to the exceptionally gracious hospitality of Agnes at the site within view of the ocean.
With the ending of World War II in 1945, Americans had a greatly enhanced sense of optimism that there would be a progressively improving world for themselves, their children, and all people. A central basis for that increased confidence was the reality that the USA was the world’s “Superpower” in terms of its military, financial, diplomatic, industrial, scientific, and medical1 status. Happily, this...
Jessie Bancroft Cox, sister of Jane Bancroft Cook, gave money to construct the Cox Building – home of the current Department. The gift was in memory of her late husband, William C. Cox.
The Department has a 40-year commitment to improving the outcome of cancer patients. As radiation oncologists, we strive to explore physical and biological means to improve local tumor control while minimizing normal tissue complications. The exploration of proton therapy, IORT, IMRT, and brachytherapy are great examples of the physical attempts to improve the therapeutic ratio for our patients. The...
The division of biomathematics and biostatistics was established in 2004 with A. Niemierko as the Head. The intent was to provide an organized program in biomathematics in clinical radiation oncology. The principal function is to collaborate with clinicians in the design of clinical studies, analysis of the resultant data, and development of new model systems and concepts for clinically related biomathematics...
One certain strategy to increase therapeutic efficacy of radiation therapy is to advance radiation physics and the associated technology including improvements in distribution of radiation dose and radiation safety. This includes an increased accuracy of (1) definition of the target contours in 4D; (2) intra-fraction target position in 4D; (3) planning of radiation dose distribution to the defined...
Kathy Bruce (Fig. 13.1) was recruited from Maine in 1980 to be Head of the MGH RTT unit. She continued very effectively in that role until 2008 when she accepted a senior administrative position.
Radiology literally erupted onto the medical and scientific community following publication of the paper by Wilhelm Conrad Röentgen on December 28, 1895, describing the discovery of new rays. The immediacy of the impact on the world was strikingly evident by the speed with which physics laboratories, hospitals, and clinics began assembling equipment. Within a year there was a substantial and positive...
The Department of Radiation Oncology was established effective June 1, 1970, with separation of radiology into imaging radiology and therapeutic radiology. Accordingly, the Chief of Radiation Oncology would report directly to the General Director of the hospital, John Knowles, and serve as a member of the General Executive Committee. An interesting point is that then and for many years, the Chief...
An important contribution to this discipline is the book Proton and Charged Particle Radiotherapy written and edited by Thomas Delaney and Hanne Kooy (2008) (Fig. 6.1) [4]. This book is a comprehensive and current presentation of the history, present status, and probable future of particle beam therapy. DeLaney and Kooy’s book is one of the first books in this field and clearly constitutes an important...
The earliest known use of the IORT was in Barcelona, Spain, in 1905 for a patient with an advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The patient was treated by hysterectomy, partial cystectomy, and node dissection on February 18 and the wound left open until March 11. Five fractions were administered over a several week period. The patient also received external beam therapy. She was reported to have...
The department in 1970 did not have a designated administrator until 1977. From 1970 to then, administrative functions were performed by Claire Hunt, a billing clerk, and Suit. See Chapter 4 for description of the many functions provided by Claire in the early years.
The first residency in radiology in the USA was in 1915 and at MGH. The first resident was appointed for 12 months. This initiative was primarily due to the interest and enthusiasm for teaching by Holmes. That first resident was Dr. A. S. Merrill. On completion of the 1-year residency he was appointed to the staff and was given primary responsibility for the therapy section. His interest was not in...
These were held as a tribute to the first radiologist at the MGH to limit his practice almost exclusively to therapeutic radiology. Many interest facets of the life and career of Milford were illuminated in this series. These were held on a yearly and then on a bi-annual basis and the event was designated the department Science Festivity Day.
The first affiliations were in the form of a staff participating in Tumor Board meetings and consulting on individual patients. Milford and CC served the Mt. Auburn Hospital and the Waltham Hospital in this capacity for the 1960s. Then we had staff there part time to operate their clinical treatment units. These two were subsequently purchased by Beth Israel-Deaconess hospital system.
The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has a history of excellence and is internationally recognized as a world class medical center, providing quality medical care, advancing medicine through clinical and laboratory research and facilitating the education of exceptional health care professionals. The Massachusetts General Hospital Radiation Oncology Department, staff, residents and fellows, past...
For soft tissue sarcoma, neoadjuvant external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to 50 Gy has the same local control (LC) and overall survival as postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) to 60 Gy, but with increased wound complications. We examined whether low-dose neoadjuvant EBRT would decrease acute toxicity while maintaining LC.From 1971 to 2008, 1,765 patients with nonmetastatic soft tissue sarcoma...
Set the date range to filter the displayed results. You can set a starting date, ending date or both. You can enter the dates manually or choose them from the calendar.