Radiation Oncology

Established in the Year: 1920

• This institution takes pride in being the foremost institutions in Asia and second in the world to introduce X-rays for cancer treatment. For over half a century it was the only centre providing treatment with X-rays.
• In 1920, Captain T. W. Barnard, O.B.E., who was appointed as Radiologist to the Government of Madras was instrumental in bringing this “new technology” into India. He was redesignated as Director, Institute of Radiology, Madras later. In 1922, the Government X-Ray institute was equipped.
• The institute was equipped with diagnostic and therapy sets working with Coolidge tubes, besides diathermy and electrical treatment equipment. The institute was offered with a 200kV x-ray unit for the treatment of cancer, which was housed in an annex specially designed and built in 1924, which was the first unit installed in the east, when the first patient got treated in the same year.
• In 1934, The Radon plant for extraction of radon was also installed, and was the only one of its kind, in Asia except Japan. The institute was equipped with the latest types of apparatus, including the first 400kV X-ray unit [Maximar] installed in the east for cancer treatment. The institute being acclaimed by the Medical & Lay Press in the UK and the U.S.A., as providing one of the best Radiological and radiotherapeutic services in the world.
• Dr.K. Manjunatha Rai D.M.R.(Lond.),F.R.C.S.(Edin) [1947 - 1961], who joined as lecturer in radiology, was in-charge for radiotherapy and electrology. He was the first Indian to take charge of this historical department. Dr. Rai proposed and got sanctioned a separate cancer ward. Thus began a new era of Radiotherapy in India. The creation of a cancer unit consisting 100 beds in 3 wards of which one was exclusively for Radium treatment with an attached Radium operation theatre- a milestone in the history of Barnard institute, stepped into a new era of brachytherapy.
• After the retirement of Dr.K.Manjunath Rai, Dr. Y. Siddiq became the Director of Barnard institute of Radiology (1961-1968). He was the first batch of D.M.R. in 1941 and qualified himself for D.M.R. (Therapy, Lond.), F.F.R.(Therapy, Lond.). During his period, in 1967, the outpatient X-ray block and Cobalt-60 therapy unit (Gammatron-2) were instituted.
• Dr. A. N. K. Menon became the director of the institute (1968-1969). Since he was promoted as director of medical education, Dr. Arcot Gajaraj became the director of the Barnard institute in 1970. He changed the name of the institute as Barnard institute of Radiology & Cancer, to justify its role in cancer management including diagnosis and treatment.
• Cesium-137 teletherapy unit was installed (1972) for cancer treatment. In 1974 Dr. A.Gajaraj went abroad and Dr. K. Radhakrishnan became the Director (1974-1976). During his period, in 1974, 700mA Radiographic Simulator was installed. Dr. A. Gajaraj returned and again became the director (1976-1979). During his period (1978) the Janus Tele-Cobalt 60 machine was installed.
• The Treatment Planning System [TPS] - RADPLAN was installed in 1987.
• A brachytherapy kit, BARC Manual Afterloading Caesium-137 was purchased in 1989 and was in use for the benefit of the patients. Then, it was upgraded to Iridium-192 wire manual after loading brachytherapy unit in 1990.
• It was until 1991 that the department functioned under the same name. In 1992, it was sweetly christened Barnard Institute of Radiology and Oncology. The department has made wonders in the lives of innumerable cancer patients.
• In 1994, the institute received a Phoenix Tele-Cobalt 60 unit
• In 1997, the HDR (High Dose Rate) Brachytherapy - Iridium 192 Micro-Selectron system was put into operation.
• The Digital X-Ray Simulator was installed in 2010.
• In 2014, HDR (High Dose Rate) plus Brachytherapy - Cobalt 60 (remote afterloading type) with dedicated operation suite for brachytherapy procedure came to function under the direction of PROF. DR. SHANMUGA KUMAR.
• In 2019, TruBeam LINEAR ACCELERATOR and CT Simulator with advanced features were installed under the guidance of PROF. DR. T. N. Vijayasree. It aided in the treatment of patients with more conformal techniques like 3D-CRTand IMRT and higher end techniques such as SRS and SBRT.
• In 2020, for the benefit of the patients' psychosocial well-being, a healing garden with fresh air and a revitalizing setting was established.