Centro Oncológico de Antioquia
The Centro Oncológico de Antioquia (COA) is one of the clinics in Colombia that offers comprehensive oncological treatment in the state of Antioquia, providing services in radiation oncology, surgical oncology, clinical oncology, hemato-oncology, pain relief, and palliative care.We have a capacity of 52 beds for hospitalized patients, an ICU, and an emergency department dedicated to the care of oncology patients. It maintains several educational clinical agreements with different universities. Thanks to the adoption of cutting‑edge technology, COA has experienced uninterrupted growth in clinical areas across all oncology specialties.
The Oncology Center of Antioquia introduced brachytherapy in March 2021.
The clinic’s radiation oncologists and medical physicists have received observational and hands‑on brachytherapy training at centers such as the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, the University Hospital of Navarra, and the Tata Memorial Cancer Center in Mumbai, as well as through participation in various national and international workshops and conferences.
The clinic quickly adopted this technology and has been offering image-guided brachytherapy in main its modalities since its launch in March 2021, using CT‑based planning.
Since September 2022, as part of our protocol, we gradually introduced the gynecological hybrid intracavitary/interstitial technique, which has now become the standard technique for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.
In the last three years, we have gained experience in approximately 800 procedures using hybrid intracavitary/interstitial image-guided brachytherapy with CT planning and some procedures planned with MRI.
In the area of gynecologic oncology, we have successfully performed interstitial brachytherapy treatments for conditions such as vulvar, vaginal, and endometrial cancer.
In October 2024, the interstitial brachytherapy program for prostate cancer was launched across different stages: as a boost to EBRT for high‑risk and unfavorable intermediate‑risk patients, as monotherapy for low‑risk and favorable intermediate‑risk patients, and we have also had the opportunity to perform salvage treatments for patients with local recurrence after surgery and EBRT.
From the beginning, we decided to incorporate CT and MRI fusion technology for treatment delineation and planning, allowing us to refine target volumes and organs at risk, thanks to MRI’s excellent soft‑tissue visualization and the more precise localization of needle reconstruction using CT during the planning process.
COA has an extensive brachytherapy service, with special focus on cervical, prostate, and skin cancer.
The center includes a brachytherapy suite functioning as a brachy operating room, a recovery room, and a specialized anesthesia team. The brachytherapy team is composed of three Radiation Oncologists and two Medical Physicists.
Approximately 200 patients receive brachytherapy treatment each year.
The center is equipped with 3D image‑guided treatments and is recognized as an expert facility in the region.
Since 2023, COA has been designated as a global Training Center in brachytherapy techniques: hybrid interstitial HDR with a special focus on gynecology, urology, and skin cancer.
Training visits to the hospital are organized for those interested in learning more about hybrid, interstitial, intracavitary, and superficial brachytherapy techniques, where they can directly observe clinical workflows and daily practices.
The hospital can offer 1‑ to 5‑day in‑house training on hybrid, interstitial, intracavitary, and superficial brachytherapy, using CT and MRI‑based imaging.
Through extensive discussions and hands‑on exercises, participants acquire a comprehensive practical understanding of the 3D brachytherapy clinical workflow.