When we talk about trans-arterial radio embolization, it involves two separate processes. In the first procedure, the patient gets admitted and has an angiography to map the tumor to see where the blood supply. How much data isotope is going to be administered. Then comes to phase of ordering the radio isotope, and then the review isotope usually comes in about a week’s time. And the patient is then, after about one week, he’s again admitted in the hospital. Again, undergoes an angiography, and the Y90s spheres are delivered into the tumor.
Now, to reduce this whole process and to make it more cost effective for the patient, there is a new system which is used at high volume centres. So, in centres where you have all the paraphernalia for doing high volume studies, you have the dosimetry software, you have the manpower which is trained to do these things quickly, there is a process called OMT. OMT stands for order, map, and treat in the same setting. So, the isotope is ordered.
We do the mapping of the tumor. So, you know which part is to be administered, how much radioisotope, and how much radioisotope the dozymemetry scan is done on specialised dosimetry software, and then the patient is immediately shifted back into the Cath lab and the doors are administered. So, the entire process of mapping and administration is done in a single procedure. This reduces the patient’s procedure time, reduces the cost to the patient, and reduces the waiting time which the patient has to have between the mapping and the actual administration of the Y90. So OMT is something which is available only at specialized high, volume centres, and we are one of these centres in the country. Which practices OMT.
So, for the trans-arterial radio embolization, be sure to ask for OMT from you.