Dr. Ishita B. Sen Nuclear Medicine Physician and Oncologist

Doctor Overview

• Full Name & Designation: Dr. Ishita B. Sen | Director & Head, Department of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging
• Specialization(s): Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging, Nuclear Oncology, Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT)
• Years of Experience: 26+ Years of Experience
• Current Hospital/Institution Affiliation: Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurgaon, India

Dr. Ishita Sen is a highly experienced and respected Nuclear Medicine Physician with over 26 years in the field. She is a leading expert in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine techniques. Dr. Sen holds special interests in Nuclear Oncology leading cancer treatment with nuclear medicine, particularly Radionuclide Therapy (including PRRT like Lu-177 DOTATATE and Ac-225 PSMA), PET Guided Interventional Procedures, and Infection Imaging. An alumnus of Lady Hardinge Medical College, she has received specialized international training and holds significant leadership positions within national and international nuclear medicine bodies, contributing significantly to clinical practice, research, and education in her domain.

Qualifications & Credentials of Dr. Ishita Sen

Medical Degrees:

• MBBS, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi (1993)
• DRM (Diploma in Radiation Medicine), Institute Of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi University (1998)
• DNB Nuclear Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi (2005)

Fellowships & Special Training:

• Medical Management of Thyroid Cancer: Visiting Fellowship, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC), New York, USA
• Thyroid Cancer Preceptorship Program: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India
• Thyroid Cancer Preceptorship Program: University of Marburg, Germany
• Myocardial SPECT Imaging: Regional Training Course for Nuclear Medicine Physicians, Beijing, China

Certifications & Accreditations:

• Registered Medical Practitioner
• Certified DNB Teacher & Assessor in Nuclear Medicine, National Board of Examinations, India

Areas of Expertise

Major Cancer Types Treated (primarily through diagnostic imaging and radionuclide therapy):

• Thyroid Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)
• Head and Neck Cancers
• Breast Cancer (Diagnosis – Scintimammography)
• Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Sub-specialties:

• Nuclear Oncology
• Radionuclide Therapy
• Infection and Inflammation Imaging (including FDG-labelled Leukocyte PET/CT)
• Neuroendocrine Tumor Imaging & Therapy (Ga-68 DOTATATE/DOTANOC PET/CT, Lu-177 DOTATATE Therapy)
• Prostate Cancer Imaging & Therapy (Ga-68 PSMA / F-18 PSMA PET/CT, Lu-177 PSMA Therapy, Ac-225 PSMA Therapy)
• Thyroid Cancer Management (Radioiodine Therapy, Diagnostics)
• Cardiac Nuclear Medicine (Myocardial SPECT Imaging)
• Scintimammography

Advanced Procedures Performed:

• PET/CT Scans (FDG, Ga-68 DOTATATE, Ga-68 PSMA, Ga-68 Exendin-4, Ga-68 Trivehexin, etc.)
• SPECT/CT Scans
• PET/CT & SPECT/CT Imaging
• PET Guided Interventional Procedures
• Radionuclide Therapies (I-131, Lu-177 DOTATATE, Lu-177 PSMA, Ac-225 PSMA, Re-188 Lipiodol, etc.)
• Intra-arterial Radionuclide Therapy administration
• FDG-Labelled Leukocyte Scans for Infection Imaging
• PET-guided Biopsies/Interventions
• Lymphoscintigraphy
• Renal Scintigraphy, Bone Scans, Hepatobiliary Scans, etc.

Professional Experience

Current & Past Hospital Affiliations:

• Director & Head, Department of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurgaon (Present)
• Consultant & Head, Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET CT, Artemis Health Institute, Gurgaon (2010 – 2011)
• Consultant, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi (2000 – 2010)
• Senior Resident, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi (1998 – 2000)
• Junior Resident, Department of Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi (1996)
• Junior Resident, Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi (1995)

Academic & Research Roles:

• DNB Teacher & Assessor in Nuclear Medicine: National Board of Examinations, India
• Guide for Postgraduate Theses: Supervised multiple DNB students.
• Co-investigator: IAEA Project on the Role of Scintimammography using Newer Technetium Agents in the Detection of Breast Cancer.
• Organizer: Numerous workshops and seminars in Nuclear Medicine (India and Overseas).
• Speaker: Prominent National & International Conferences.

Key Achievements & Contributions:

• President, Association of Nuclear Medicine Physicians of India (ANMPI).
• Member, International Task Force to prepare Standard Operating Procedures on the Use of Clinical Practice, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna.
• Pioneering work in advanced radionuclide therapies (including targeted alpha therapy like Ac-225 PSMA) in India.
• Significant contributions to research in PET/CT imaging biomarkers and novel radiopharmaceuticals.

Awards & Recognitions

• Presidency of the Association of Nuclear Medicine Physicians of India (ANMPI).
• Appointment to the International Task Force by the IAEA, Vienna.
• Regular invitations to speak at prestigious national and international medical conferences.

Research & Publications

Authored and co-authored numerous reviews, clinical communications, original articles, and abstracts in peer-reviewed national and international journals (25+ publications listed on ResearchGate).A few are mentioned below:

• “Validation of Radiosynthesis and First in-Human Dosimetry of 68 Ga-NOTA-UBI-29-41: A Proof of Concept Study” (Nov 2024)
• “Potential Efficacy of 68 Ga-Trivehexin PET/CT and Immunohistochemical Validation of αvβ6 Integrin Expression in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma” (Jun 2024)
• “Dosimetric analyses of intra-arterial versus standard intravenous administration of 177Lu-DOTATATE in patients of well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor with liver-dominant metastatic disease” (Aug 2021)
• “Therapeutic efficacy of 225Ac-PSMA-617 targeted alpha therapy in patients of metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer after taxane-based chemotherapy” (May 2021)
• “Incremental Value of Ga-68 Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-11 Positron-Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Scan for Preoperative Risk Stratification of Prostate Cancer” (Apr 2020)
• “Potential role of F18 FDG PET-CT as an imaging biomarker for the noninvasive evaluation in uncomplicated skeletal tuberculosis: a prospective clinical observational study” (Jul 2014)
• “Role of F-18-FDG PET CT as an independent prognostic indicator in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma” (May 2013)

Books & Chapters Authored:

• Chapter: “Molecular Imaging in Oncology” (Jan 2016) – Co-author
• Chapter: “The Role of PET/CT in Prostate Cancer Management” (Jul 2017) – Co-author

Patient Success Stories & Testimonials

Notable Cases Handled:

• Successful management of complex Thyroid Cancer cases using Radioiodine therapy post-surgery.
• Accurate staging and restaging of Prostate Cancer using advanced Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT, guiding further treatment decisions.
• Effective treatment of metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) using Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) with Lu-177 DOTATATE, improving quality of life and survival.
• Pioneering use of targeted alpha therapy (Ac-225 PSMA) for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients with limited options.
• Precise localization of infections and inflammatory processes using FDG-PET/CT and FDG-labelled leukocyte scans.

Patient Testimonials:

“Dr. Ishita Sen and her team were exceptional. After my father was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, the PSMA PET scan they performed was crucial for understanding the disease spread. We are grateful for her expertise and compassionate care.” – R. Sharma

“I was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor, and the Lu-177 DOTATATE PRRT under Dr. Sen’s supervision has made a world of difference. Her clear explanations and confident approach were very reassuring throughout the treatment process. The follow-up scans show a great response.” – A. Khan

“I highly recommend Dr. Sen for advanced radiotherapy cancer treatments.” — Rahul K.

Treatment Approach & Philosophy

Patient-Centred Care: Dr. Sen, Nuclear Oncologist emphasizes a patient-centric approach, ensuring patients understand their diagnosis, imaging results, and treatment options. She focuses on providing clear communication and compassionate care. She works closely with referring physicians (Oncologists, Surgeons, Endocrinologists, etc.) within a multidisciplinary team framework to ensure comprehensive and personalized patient management.
Technology & Innovation: She leverages state-of-the-art Nuclear Medicine technology (PET/CT, SPECT/CT) and novel radiopharmaceuticals for accurate diagnosis, staging, treatment response assessment, and targeted radionuclide therapies. She specializes in targeted therapies (like PRRT and PSMA therapy) that deliver radiation specifically to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

Consultation Fees & Treatment Costs

Consultation Fee: The consultation fee for Dr. Sen is around ₹2500.

Treatment Costs: Costs for procedures like PET/CT scans and Radionuclide Therapies (PRRT, Radioiodine, etc.) vary significantly based on the type of scan/therapy, radiopharmaceutical used, number of cycles required, and hospital charges. A detailed estimate is typically provided after consultation and assessment.

International Patient Assistance

• Language Support: You can contact Cancer Rounds team for translators for language assistance upon request.
• Visa & Travel Assistance: Cancer Rounds team assists with visa invitation letters, travel arrangements, airport transfers, and accommodation bookings. International patients are typically assigned a dedicated coordinator to manage appointments, logistics, and communication.
• Pre-treatment Virtual Consultations: Available to review medical reports, discuss potential diagnostic or therapeutic options in Nuclear Medicine, and provide preliminary opinions before travel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q 1. What is Nuclear Medicine and how is it used in cancer?

Nuclear Medicine uses small amounts of radioactive materials (radiopharmaceuticals) to diagnose and treat diseases. In cancer, it’s used via PET/CT or SPECT/CT scans for diagnosis, staging, finding recurrence, monitoring treatment response, and delivering targeted radiation therapy (like PRRT or Radioiodine therapy).

Q 2. What are PET/CT scans and why might Dr. Ishita Sen recommend one?

PET/CT combines Positron Emission Tomography (shows metabolic function) and Computed Tomography (shows anatomy). Dr. Sen may recommend specific PET/CT scans (like FDG, PSMA, or DOTATATE) to detect cancer cells accurately, see how far cancer has spread, check if treatment is working, or locate specific targets for therapy (e.g., finding PSMA expression before PSMA therapy for prostate cancer).

Q 3. Which conditions does Dr. Ishita Sen specialize in treating or diagnosing?

Dr. Sen has special expertise in Nuclear Medicine applications for Thyroid Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs), infection/inflammation imaging, and evaluating various other cancers using molecular imaging techniques like PET/CT.

Q 4. Does Dr. Sen treat international patients?

Yes, Dr. Sen regularly consults and treats international patients.

Q 5. What is Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT used for?

Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT is a highly sensitive scan primarily used for diagnosing, staging, detecting recurrence, and assessing treatment response in patients with Prostate Cancer. Dr. Sen utilizes this advanced imaging technique extensively.