Radiation Oncology Faculty / Medical Staff >

The Department of Radiation Oncology at the Samsung Medical Center has treated more than 50,000 new cases as of April 2015 since its first treatment in August 1994. It provides the best treatment for various tumors based on a multi-disciplinary approach through each type of cancer center. We provide not only conventional radiotherapy, but also high-level radiotherapy, including image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), respiration-gated radiation therapy (RGRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Also, we will be equipped with a proton therapy facility at the end of 2015 to position ourselves as a hub for cancer treatment not only in Korea but also internationally.

Major areas of treatment / Clinics

Breast cancer, gynecologic cancer, colon cancer, urologic cancer, lung and esophageal cancer, mediastinal cancer, head and neck cancer, lymphoma, gastric cancer, liver cancer, pancreato-biliary cancer, pediatric cancer, hematologic malignancy, brain cancer, sarcoma, and skin cancer

Strong points – Application of various up-to-date treatment methods

1. Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and four-dimensional respiration-gated radiation therapy (RGRT)

The Department of Radiation Oncology at the Samsung Medical Center actively uses various treatment plan images, including CT, MRI, and PET-CT to precisely configure the target volume to treat, and has installed, and is running an MRI machine to plan radiotherapy treatment in the proton center. Also, for tumors that are affected by respiration such as those of the lung and liver, we use four-dimensional CT and devices dedicated to four-dimensional radiotherapy, such as Varian iX and Novalis TX, to minimize treatment errors.

2. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)

This is a method to irradiate a small target with large amounts of radiation from various directions by precise alignment of the target using a three-dimensional co-ordination system. The Department of Radiation Oncology at the Samsung Medical Center uses the Novalis TX system, a device dedicated to stereotactic body radiation therapy, to actively treat lung cancer, liver cancer, and spinal cancer.

3. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is a “customized radiation therapy” that fractionates and controls the intensity of individual surfaces to be irradiated to minimize the irradiation of normal tissue and to selectively irradiate cancerous tissue. In the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Samsung Medical Center, we not only have intensity-modulated radiation therapy using linear accelerators, but also the TomoTherapy and RapidArc systems dedicated for this use.

4. Proton therapy

The proton therapy device accelerates protons, the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, using a cylindrical accelerator (cyclotron) to destroy cancer tissue, and is known as the “cancer treatment dream device.” The proton beam passes through the body without affecting normal tissue and delivers its maximum energy to the tumor tissue and then dissipates. Proton therapy can be applied to all types of cancers that are indicated by conventional X-ray treatments, and even though it is more effective than conventional radiotherapy, it has fewer complications.

The Samsung Medical Center plans to begin proton therapy by the end of 2015, and also plans to fit cutting-edge treatment support devices, other than the rotational irradiation proton therapy system. These include a respiratory-gated proton therapy system which follows and treats tumors that move on respiration, an intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) system, and cone beam real-time computed tomography, which confirms a tumor just before treatment using a specially designed CT scan.

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Patients' Rights and Responsibilities

Patients' Rights

1. Right to receive medical care

Patients have the right to receive proper care in a safe setting without discrimination nor should their right to care be violated regardless of their gender, age, religion, social status, nationality, language, race, or physical/mental/financial status. Medical teams shall not refuse to provide care without justifiable reason.

2. Right to be informed and to make an autonomous decision

Patients have the right to obtain full and complete information from their medical team, to ask questions, and to determine their agreement or refusal concerning: diagnosis, treatment (purpose, plans and methods), outcomes of care (including unanticipated outcomes), discharge plan, participation in medical research studies, organ transplantation/donation, etc. Within ethical boundaries, patients may discontinue or refuse treatment, request that the medical team explain and suggest alternative treatments, and reserve the right to make their own decisions.

3. Right to confidentiality

Patients' rights to confidentiality regarding their physical/health status and privacy will not be violated. Patients can expect that all medical records/reports and their personal privacy will be kept confidential unless the patient has given consent or disclosure is permitted by law. To ensure their privacy, patients may be informed that Individuals not directly involved in their care may not be present and that the number of guardians accompanying patients to consultation rooms may be limited.

4. Right to request consultation and mediation

In the event of a medical dispute, patients may request consultation and mediation from an internal or external agency (Korea Consumer Agency, Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency).

5. Right to have values and beliefs respected

Patients will not be discriminated against because of their culture, religious values, or beliefs, and their rights will not be violated.

6. Right to receive care in a safe setting

Patients have the right to receive hospital-provided care where the patient’s medical information is protected and patient safety can be assured. In addition, patients have the right to be protected from possible dangers that can occur in a hospital and to have stability of mind and body.

Patients' Responsibilities

1. Responsibility to trust and respect the medical team

Patients must accurately inform the medical team of their health condition and must trust and respect the medical team's treatment plan. Patients may be responsible for consequences that result from not following instructions.

2. Responsibility to not use dishonest methods for medical treatment

Patients must reveal their identity before receiving any medical care and must not use false or dishonest methods, such as seeking medical care under disguised ownership.

3. Responsibility to abide by all hospital regulations

Patients are expected to treat all hospital staff and other patients with courtesy and respect; to abide by all hospital rules; and to earnestly fulfill their financial obligation to the hospital. Also, patients and their family members are expected to participate in all safety regulations.