Srinagar: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu has achieved a major milestone in cancer care by successfully performing the first-ever interstitial brachytherapy procedure in Jammu and Kashmir for a 26-year-old woman diagnosed with stage II vulvar cancer.
The patient was managed under the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at AIIMS Jammu.
Vulvar cancer is a rare gynaecological malignancy, accounting for only 4 percent of all gynaecological cancers and is particularly uncommon in young patients.
The case, according to an AIIMS Jammu spokesperson, was extensively reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumour board comprising experts from the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Radiation Oncology; Surgical Oncology; Radiodiagnosis and Pathology to formulate an individualised treatment strategy. The interstitial brachytherapy procedure was successfully performed by the Department of Radiation Oncology under the leadership of Prof (Dr) D N Sharma, Executive Director and CEO, AIIMS Jammu. This highly specialised technique allows precise delivery of radiation directly into the tumour, maximising treatment effectiveness while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.
A significant advantage of this approach is that it enables the patient to avoid a mutilating surgical procedure, which is particularly important in young women. This organ-preserving treatment offers the potential for excellent disease control while maintaining the patient’s quality of life.
Prof (Dr) D N Sharma highlighted that this landmark procedure marked a significant step towards introducing advanced, organ-preserving cancer treatment modalities in the region. “This achievement reinforces AIIMS Jammu’s commitment to delivering state-of-the-art oncology services and ensuring that patients in Jammu and Kashmir have access to the latest cancer treatment options within the Union Territory itself,” he said.
