About Dr. V. Kannan

Dr. V. Kannan is a senior radiation oncologist in Mumbai with more than three decades of experience in cancer treatment. He has been associated with P. D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre since 1996, where he has served as faculty, consultant, and Head of Radiation Oncology.

Before joining Hinduja Hospital, Dr. Kannan worked at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bangalore from 1987 to 1996, serving as faculty and consultant radiation oncologist. He completed his residency and senior residency in Radiation Oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, from 1983 to 1987.

His career has been closely associated with the adoption of newer radiation-treatment technologies in India. He has worked across conventional and highly specialized radiation techniques, including stereotactic radiosurgery, three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, image-guided treatment, and brachytherapy.

Patients looking for related specialists can browse the Doctiplus oncology directory.

Focus Areas

• Radiation oncology
• Cancer radiotherapy
• Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery
• Stereotactic radiation treatment
• 3D conformal radiotherapy
• Intensity-modulated radiotherapy
• Image-guided radiation therapy
• Brachytherapy
• Head and neck cancers
• Breast cancer
• Brain tumors
• Prostate cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Gastrointestinal cancers
• Soft-tissue sarcomas
• Bone tumors

Patients can learn more about radiation therapy through the National Cancer Institute.

Specialties And Radiation Oncology Approach

Radiation oncology uses carefully planned radiation doses to destroy, shrink, or control cancer cells. Radiation may be used as the primary treatment for some cancers or combined with surgery and systemic cancer treatments.

P. D. Hinduja Hospital describes radiation therapy as a treatment that may be used independently or alongside medical and surgical oncology. The department uses modern treatment systems and image-guided techniques to improve treatment planning and positioning.

Dr. Kannan’s professional career has focused on advancing radiation treatment techniques and applying newer technologies to different cancer types.

Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery is a highly focused radiation technique used primarily for selected conditions involving the brain. Despite the term “radiosurgery,” it does not involve a conventional surgical incision.

Dr. Kannan received specialist training in Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery at Karolinska Hospital, Sweden, in 1997. His professional profile identifies him as the first radiation oncologist in India to treat patients using Gamma Knife SRS in 1997.

Stereotactic treatment is planned using detailed imaging so that radiation can be concentrated on a defined target while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy

Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, or 3DCRT, uses three-dimensional imaging and treatment planning to shape radiation fields around a tumor.

Dr. Kannan’s professional record states that he was the first in India to initiate 3DCRT treatment in 1998. His department at Hinduja Hospital subsequently continued to develop increasingly sophisticated radiation-planning and delivery techniques.

A published study involving Dr. Kannan and colleagues examined 3D conformal radiation therapy for prostate cancer, reflecting his clinical and research involvement with advanced radiotherapy.

Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy, or IMRT, allows radiation intensity to vary across treatment fields. This can help shape the radiation dose more closely around a tumor while reducing unnecessary exposure to nearby structures.

Dr. Kannan’s professional profile records the introduction of IMRT at Hinduja Hospital in 2001 as part of his work in advancing radiation oncology technology.

IMRT can be particularly useful for tumors located near sensitive organs where radiation planning requires careful dose distribution.

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy

Image-guided radiation therapy uses imaging during the treatment process to help verify patient positioning and target location.

Dr. Kannan has contributed to clinical and technical research involving image-guided radiation therapy. A study published in the Journal of Medical Physics included him among researchers examining imaging dose measurements and radiation-treatment imaging techniques at P. D. Hinduja National Hospital.

His professional work has also included the development and application of newer approaches to radiation planning and delivery.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is a form of radiation treatment in which a radiation source is positioned inside or close to the area requiring treatment. It can be used for selected cancers, including cervical, prostate, breast, and other tumors.

Dr. Kannan completed specialized brachytherapy training under Dr. Nissar Sayed at Long Beach, California, in 1998.

His professional research interests include MRI-guided brachytherapy for cervical cancer, intracavitary brachytherapy for uterine cancer, and interstitial brachytherapy for selected breast and soft-tissue cancers.

Head And Neck Cancer

Radiation therapy plays an important role in the treatment of many head and neck cancers. Depending on the cancer type and stage, radiotherapy can be used alone or alongside surgery and systemic treatment.

Dr. Kannan has a longstanding research and clinical interest in head and neck cancers. His published work and research portfolio include studies involving combined chemotherapy and radiation for advanced head and neck cancer and investigations into methods intended to protect normal tissue during treatment.

Modern radiation planning can help clinicians deliver treatment to a tumor while attempting to limit radiation exposure to nearby organs.

Breast Cancer

Radiotherapy is commonly used after breast-conserving surgery and may also have a role in other breast-cancer treatment settings.

Dr. Kannan’s department has experience with advanced breast radiotherapy techniques, including deep-inspiration breath-hold approaches intended to reduce radiation exposure to the heart during treatment of selected left-sided breast cancers. His department’s work has included DIBH, prone positioning, lateral decubitus positioning, and VMAT techniques.

His research interests also include hypofractionation in breast cancer and interstitial brachytherapy for early breast cancer.

Brain Tumors

Radiation therapy can be used for selected primary and metastatic brain tumors. Treatment may involve conventional radiotherapy, stereotactic techniques, or a combination depending on the diagnosis.

Dr. Kannan’s research portfolio includes work on high-grade gliomas, germ-cell tumors of the brain, and other intracranial malignancies. His department has also investigated combined radiation and chemotherapy approaches for brain tumors.

His training in Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery provides additional expertise in highly focused radiation treatment for selected intracranial conditions.

Prostate Cancer

Radiotherapy is one of the established treatment approaches for prostate cancer. Depending on the patient’s disease and overall health, treatment can involve external-beam radiation, brachytherapy, surgery, hormone therapy, or combinations of these approaches.

Dr. Kannan has participated in research concerning three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for prostate adenocarcinoma. The published study examined survival and rectal toxicity among prostate cancer patients treated with 3D conformal radiation therapy.

The appropriate treatment plan depends on cancer stage, tumor characteristics, prostate-related findings, age, overall health, and patient preferences.

Cervical And Gynecological Cancers

Radiation therapy and brachytherapy are important components of treatment for many locally advanced cervical cancers.

Dr. Kannan’s research interests include image-guided MRI-based brachytherapy for cervical carcinoma and intracavitary brachytherapy for uterine endometrial cancer.

Modern image-guided brachytherapy can help physicians identify the treatment target and nearby organs more precisely when planning radiation.

Sarcoma And Bone Tumors

Sarcomas are cancers that can arise in bone or soft tissue. Their treatment often requires coordination between surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, and imaging specialists.

Dr. Kannan’s professional research portfolio includes extracorporeal radiotherapy for bone sarcomas and interstitial brachytherapy for soft-tissue sarcomas.

These approaches are specialized and are considered only for appropriately selected cases within a multidisciplinary cancer-treatment plan.

Research And Clinical Development

Research has been a substantial part of Dr. Kannan’s career. His official professional profile lists clinical research involving brain tumors, head and neck cancers, breast cancer, cervical cancer, soft-tissue sarcomas, gastrointestinal cancers, and other malignancies.

His research interests have included radiation-dose optimization, treatment combinations, image-guided approaches, brachytherapy, and methods for reducing exposure to normal tissues.

He has also contributed to published research on radiotherapy planning and imaging. One published study examined 3D conformal radiation therapy for prostate cancer, while another investigated imaging dose associated with image-guided radiation therapy.

Academic And Professional Contributions

Dr. Kannan has worked in both clinical and academic settings. His early career at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology included faculty responsibilities, followed by his long-standing role at P. D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre.

His professional profile states that he has served as training faculty for the D.R.P. postgraduate clinical radiation therapy physics diploma course conducted by BARC. He has also served as a referee for clinical research projects from Tata Memorial Hospital.

He has participated as faculty and chairperson at national and international oncology meetings. In 2022, he was listed as Consultant and Head of Radiation Oncology at P. D. Hinduja Hospital for an Evidence Based Management of Cancers in India program associated with Tata Memorial Centre.

Professional Memberships

Dr. Kannan’s professional affiliations include the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India, Indian College of Radiation Oncology, Indian Society of Oncology, American Society for Radiation Oncology, and European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology.

These organizations represent professional communities involved in radiation oncology, cancer treatment, research, education, and continuing medical development.

Professional Recognition

Dr. Kannan has been recognized for his contribution to the introduction of advanced radiation technologies in India.

His official Hinduja Hospital profile identifies him as the first radiation oncologist in India to treat patients using Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery in 1997. It also credits him with initiating 3DCRT in 1998, IMRT in 2001, and 4D gated radiation therapy in 2008.

He has additionally served on the governing body and scientific committee of a Ministry of Telecommunications project involving the development of an indigenous linear accelerator for cancer treatment. The project resulted in installation of linear accelerators at several Indian cancer centers.

Credentials And Education

Dr. V. Kannan completed his MD in Radiation Oncology, followed by residency and senior residency training at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, from 1983 to 1987.

He then joined the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, as faculty and consultant radiation oncologist, where he worked from 1987 to 1996. In 1996, he joined P. D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre as faculty and consultant and later became Head of Radiation Oncology.

His additional specialist training includes Gamma Knife SRS at Karolinska Hospital in Sweden, Micro MLC training in Germany, and brachytherapy training in California.

Hospital And Appointment Information

Dr. Kannan is associated with P. D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Mahim, Mumbai, where he has served as Consultant and Head of Radiation Oncology since 1996. The hospital’s current radiation oncology information lists him among its senior specialists.

The department provides modern radiation-treatment services, including advanced linear-accelerator-based treatment and image-guided techniques.

Consultation schedules can change according to hospital and clinic arrangements. Patients should contact P. D. Hinduja National Hospital directly to confirm current appointment timings, consultation fees, availability, insurance arrangements, and the appropriate oncology service before visiting.