Dr. Despina Katsochi is a senior clinical Radiation Oncologist. She holds medical degrees of expertise in both Radiology and Radiation Oncology from the University of RWTH, in Aachen, Germany where she received the degree of Associated Professor and senior Deputy Director. She is the 1992 International Patent holder for a specialized radiotherapy accessory. She is an active member of the American, European and Greek Society of Radiation Oncology. She has authored numerous original scientific articles that have been published in journals as well as chapters in books.

Her clinical activities involve general radiation oncology, treating patients with breast, cervix, prostate, bladder, and lung cancer using newest techniques like radiosurgery, stereotactic body irradiation and brachytherapy. Dr. Katsochi’s offers personalized, scientific care and support because she takes it personally!

Hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT)

Hypofractionated radiation therapy is the new standard in radiation therapy, in which the total dose of radiation is given over a shorter time, a few days or weeks. For example, for early-stage prostate cancer the radical treatment lasts only 5-7 workdays instead 28-35 work days. Radical treatment for early-stage lung cancer lasts only 3-5 workdays instead 30 work days. Breast cancer radiation therapy after breast conserving surgery is 16 working days instead of 30 work days. Bone and lung metastases are treated in 3 to 7 work days.
 

Stereotactic Radiotherapy - Just one or a few days to cure the cancer. A specialized, extremely accurate technique that uses highly targeted radiation beams for the treatment of small lesions such as lung nodules of primary lung cancer or lung metastases, liver metastases, adrenal gland metastases, reiradiation. Stereotactic radiotherapy administers a very high dose in a single fraction (called stereotactic radiosurgery) and ensures maximum effectiveness in a short time span. SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy) or SABR (Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy) for small malignant lesions are delivered using robotic radiation devices such as Cyberknife, Versa-Elekta, Edge-Varian.

Gamma Knife Brain Radiosurgery Perfexion system 

Therapy in One Day Schedule. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a non-invasive highly precise form of radiation therapy to treat functional abnormalities and small tumors of the brain usually performed on an outpatient basis in one session. Stereotactic radiosurgery, such as Gamma Knife, is often used to treat malignant brain tumors, brain metastases and noncancerous (benign) lesions including meningioma, paraganglioma, hemangioblastoma and craniopharyngioma, arteriovenous malformation and trigeminal neuralgia, as well as acoustic neuroma, vestibular schwannoma, pituitary tumor, tremor and ocular (eye) melanoma.

They use the latest techniques of radiation oncology, such as:

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy - Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy is an advanced type of radiotherapy, emitting multiple beams that conform to the target. This technique allows higher doses to be delivered to the target and improves local disease control.

Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) - A form of IMRT that allows doses to be delivered in a single 360-degree rotation. Side effects are minimized and surrounding healthy tissues are not as affected, due to the higher dose of radiation being delivered in high precision.

Image Guided Radiation Therapy - is the visualization of the cancer during radiation therapy to improve the precision and accuracy of treatment delivery. We provide images of the tumor-target before and during treatment, we compare these images real time to the reference images, we adjust them to target the radiation dose more precisely to the tumor. To help align we use CT scan, 3-D body surface mapping, electromagnetic transponders or colored ink tattoos on the skin.

Gating – Tracking

Automated gated breath-hold treatments with Active Breathing Coordinator ABC by Versa Elekta or high precision intelligence machine by Edge Varian, track tumor position in real time, precisely calculate patient movement in all six degrees of freedom and monitor respiratory motion and provides non-invasive, internal immobilization of anatomies affected by respiratory motion, such as the breast and lung. Immobilizes target anatomy through planning, imaging, and delivery, enables dose escalation for SBRT techniques, reduces dose to surrounding organs at risk, supports automated gating for workflow efficiencies.

Innovative left breast radiotherapy method 

The radiotherapy is administered during the inhalation phase, which is when the distance between the heart and the mammary gland is the largest, while the radiation dose to the heart and lungs is reduced. The radiotherapy is administered during the inhalation phase, which is when the distance between the heart and the mammary gland is the largest, while the radiation dose to the heart and lungs is reduced. This method ensures fast, safe, and accurate treatment.

High dose rate Brachytherapy with Ir-192 (HDR) for cervix and uterus carcinoma - Brachytherapy is a radiotherapy technique that uses radioactive sources placed in body cavities, in tissue or close to the target to deliver a very high dose to the target while minimizing the dose to the surrounding tissues. It allows for the quicker eradication of tumor volume.
 

Low dose prostate brachytherapy with iodine seeds I-125. Prostate cancer radical treatment, for early stages, in a single session with real-time seeds implantation technique.