Mary Kara Bucci on Blogger

Monday, July 15, 2019

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy

ECG Machine
Image: pexels.com

Based in Albuquerque, Dr. Mary Kara Bucci serves as a radiation oncologist with the MD Anderson/Presbyterian Health System. Dr. Mary Kara Bucci has also coauthored peer-reviewed publications on such topics as the uses of modified equivalent uniform dose in intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy, or IMRT, is an advanced technique that delivers precise radiation to a tumor site. It begins with detailed imaging of the tumor through either computed topography (CT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests allow the treatment team to visualize the size and shape of the tumor and enable the IMRT computer to customize radiation delivery.

The treatment itself uses linear accelerators to send individualized doses of radiation into the tumor. The linked computer controls both the intensity and the direction of the beam, which then fits to the shape of the tumor. This minimizes exposure of nearby healthy tissue and thus allows the treatment team to use higher dosage levels, while simultaneously helping to reduce side effects.

About Mary Kara Bucci

Named among the top oncologists in America for 2009, 2011, and 2012, Dr. Mary Kara Bucci is an experienced radiation oncologist and accomplished researcher in the field. In her 17 years of serving as a radiation oncologist, clinical instructor, and researcher, she has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed articles published in a number of medical journals as well as almost two dozen abstracts, and several book chapters. Dr. Mary Kara Bucci also has been a presenter at a number of international and national conferences, including conferences in China, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Texas, and California. She serves as a journal reviewer for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics.

Alongside her work in academia, Dr. Bucci serves as a radiation oncologist at Anderson MD and the Presbyterian Health System of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She continues to serve as an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Texas. She has previously practiced as a radiation oncologist in California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Alaska. She holds a BS in biomedical sciences and an MD from the University of Michigan.

Since 2003, Dr. Bucci has served as a member of the American College of Radiology, the American Radium Society, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.