Department of Radiation Oncology
at Heidelberg University Hospital
Radiation Oncology is one of the three main pillars in oncology together with surgery and systemic treatment such as chemotherapy.
Over the more than 100-year history, our center for radiation oncology has become one of the largest and most modern institutions around the world, focusing on patient treatment as well as preclinical cancer research. With 49 specialized physicians and a large number of technicians and nursing staff, we treat over 4,500 patients per year as outpatients or on our three dedicated radiation oncology wards. Radiation treatment is performed in general from Monday to Friday, and the duration of the treatment typically extends over a couple of weeks, depending on the tumor treated.
We are constantly striving to further improve our cancer treatment strategies, as demonstrated by our numerous internationally recognized projects:
- Proton therapy and carbon ion therapy (HIT at Heidelberg University Hospital)
- Our collaborative radiation oncology unit at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
- The development of “Comprehensive Cancer Centers” based on the example of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT)
Advanced technologies
Our radiation oncology wards include 62 beds and the team is specialized in all combination treatments including chemotherapy or modern molecular substances as well as in palliative care. The department consists of 7 linear accelerators and two tomotherapy units, intraoperative radiotherapy, brachytherapy as well as particle therapy with protons and carbon ions. Particle therapy is performed at the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center (HIT), which offers treatment of an additional 1,300 patients per year. The radiosurgery "cyberknife" system enables high precision radiotherapy for cancer patients without general anesthesia or rigid restraint.
Our Radiation Oncology Center specializes in
- Interstitial radiation oncology (brachytherapy),
- Cyberknife,
- Fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy,
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy,
- Intraoperative radiation therapy,
- Proton and heavy ion beam therapy (further information www.hit-heidelberg.com),
- Tomotherapy,
- Radio-chemotherapy,
- Molecular targeted treatments,
- MR-Linac
Proton and carbon ion therapy
HIT is a direct continuation of our long tradition of precision radiotherapy, which was developed in Heidelberg and has become a widely accepted clinical standard. We are proud that with the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), we have closed one of the gaps in treatment options for patients suffering from previously untreatable tumors. Within numerous studies and projects we are helping to establish scientific foundations for new cancer treatments in the future.
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Should you have any questions we are happy to provide you with answers or further information.