Radiology and Radiation Oncology: Working Together to Defeat Cancer

The integration of radiology and radiation oncology brings diagnosis and treatment together into a unified, streamlined process. By working hand in hand, these specialties enhance coordination and precision, ultimately leading to more effective care and better outcomes for patients.

Radiology serves as the expert eye, using advanced imaging to seek early detection of cancer when it’s most treatable. Radiation oncology follows with surgical-level precision, delivering targeted therapies that destroy tumors while preserving healthy tissue.

Together, they can give patients a critical advantage: earlier detection, more precise treatment, and fully coordinated care — often before the first symptom appears.

“We’ve moved from uncertainty to precision,” says Markus Bredel, M.D., Ph.D., chair of radiation oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We visualize the cancer, decode its behavior, and strike with accuracy — often in a single session.”

Radiology is where the fight against cancer begins.

Using cutting-edge imaging technologies, radiologists can detect cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages, giving patients a critical head start.

“Early detection isn’t just about finding cancer – it’s about finding it in time to treat it effectively,” says Jose Net, M.D., director of breast imaging services at Sylvester and associate professor of clinical radiology at the Miller School. “With the right tools and the right team, cancer becomes less of a mystery and more of a target—and one we can find, fight and beat.” 

Radiologists have many tools available to build a precise, real-time map of disease, guiding them with clarity and confidence, including:

• Low-dose CT scans detect lung cancer early in high-risk patients, often before symptoms like coughing or pain even appear.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enhanced mammograms spot subtle changes in breast tissue that can escape the human eye, making them a powerful tool for early breast cancer detection.
• 3D MRIs offer exceptional detail of soft tissues, helping identify hard-to-detect cancers in the brain, spine, and prostate.
• PET scans go beyond structure, revealing how tissues function, often detecting aggressive cancers before they’re visible on other scans.

Artificial intelligence has been transforming radiology — accelerating diagnoses, sharpening precision, and unlocking predictive power. Alexander McKinney, M.D., chair of radiology at Sylvester, says that AI combined with human intervention (HI) is the future of cutting-edge treatments, and a new field: “Preventional Radiology.”

“At the Miller School of Medicine, we’ve been at the forefront of this evolution, integrating AI not just as a tool, but as a strategic partner in patient care,” says Dr. McKinney. “This predictive nature is leading us to both precision therapy and preventional care, which we will optimize at particular steps along the care path. Our commitment to innovation is helping define the future of diagnostic medicine.”

Once radiology identifies the target, radiation oncology takes aim.

Using powerful beams, radioactive seeds, and smart radiopharmaceuticals, the team destroys cancer cells while protecting healthy tissue.

Today’s radiation therapy is highly personalized. It can be curative or palliative, and it’s often combined with surgery or chemotherapy. But unlike traditional surgery, it’s non-invasive. Most treatments are outpatient, allowing patients to continue with daily life with fewer side effects, shorter courses, and better outcomes.

Cutting-edge technologies like proton beam therapy, brain radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy, magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiation therapy (MR-Linac), CT-adaptive radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, intraoperative radiation therapy and brachytherapy deliver high-dose treatment with surgical precision, minimizing harm to surrounding organs.

“With our growing fleet of 20 state-of-the-art radiation delivery devices — which makes us one of the largest and most technically advanced radiation oncology departments in the nation — we offer a comprehensive spectrum of advanced treatment options tailored to go above and beyond to meet the unique needs of each of our patients,” says Dr. Bredel. 

Sylvester is taking integrated care to the next level with the opening of the Kenneth C. Griffin Cancer Research Building later this year.

This new 12-story, 244,000-square-foot facility on the medical campus will double Sylvester’s research capacity and redefine how science translates into treatment.

Equipped with cutting-edge imaging, AI-augmented diagnostics, and adaptive radiation technologies, the Griffin Cancer Research Building will bring leading cancer minds together under one roof, accelerating discovery, expanding clinical trials, and personalizing care at every step.

The facility will serve as a hub for innovation, blending radiology and radiation oncology into one fluid, patient-centered process. Technologies like the MRI-LINAC allow clinicians to visualize tumors during therapy and adapt radiation in real-time, improving precision and reducing unnecessary exposure to surrounding tissue.

“These innovations reflect our mission — faster, more precise, and more effective care,” says Dr. Bredel, “This is the future of cancer treatment, and it’s happening now.”

Written by Debby Teich, a contributor for Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Tags: Advanced imaging for cancer, Cancer care integration, Dr. Markus Bredel, Precision oncology, radiation therapy, radiology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center