Radiotherapy
U.K. medical center acquires two Elekta Synergy treatment systems, MOSAIQ oncology information system and IGRT workspace
The radiation oncology department at internationally renowned Addenbrooke’s Hospital (Cambridge, U.K.) is upgrading its radiotherapy capabilities with Elekta therapy systems, oncology information system (OIS) and image guided workspace. The two Elekta Synergy® image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) systems replace one Siemens linear accelerator and one Varian linear accelerator that had been in service for more than 10 years at the medical center, which is run by the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Officials at Addenbrooke’s have been eager to more fully exploit techniques and technologies that modern treatment machines provide, according to Simon Thomas, Ph.D., head of radiotherapy physics at Addenbrooke’s. Currently, the hospital treats between 200 and 250 patients each day on seven machines.
“The two capabilities we wanted on the machines were IGRT and VMAT,” he says. “IGRT provides images of the target and nearby critical structures we want to avoid – with the patient in the treatment position before therapy. With VMAT, single or multiple radiation beams sweep in uninterrupted arcs around the patient, significantly reducing treatment times.”
Acquiring additional IGRT- and VMAT-capable treatment machines will enable Addenbrooke’s clinicians to offer these imaging and therapy techniques to more patients, Dr. Thomas adds.
Addenbrooke’s Hospital asked Elekta and three other providers to submit proposals and give presentations on their equipment to replace the outgoing linear accelerators. “We compared each company against our clinical and financial requirements and developed an overall score,” Dr. Thomas says. “Elekta’s overall score came out highest, and we combined that with the positive opinions we gathered from other Elekta users in the U.K., and decided to go with Elekta’s offerings.”
Read more at: http://www.elekta.com/healthcare_international_press_release_20071324.php.
Image guided treatments jump 20 percent since Helsinki University Central Hospital acquires Elekta Axesse stereotactic system
Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH) doubled its Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) capability with the acquisition of Elekta Axesse™, a system that provides 3D image guidance technology for conventional and stereotactic radiation therapy techniques. After eight months of use, HUCH has increased its Axesse caseload to as many as 30 patients each day for a variety of tumors in the lung, brain, head and neck and pelvis*.
“We wanted to have a modern treatment system capable of 3D image guidance and delivery of complex radiation therapy techniques, such as VMAT,” says Mikko Tenhunen, Ph.D., chief physicist at HUCH. “In addition, we treat many small tumors here, so sophisticated field shaping and patient positioning and immobilization were critical. We compared several machines through the open call for tenders and Elekta Axesse obtained the best overall scores.”
Up to the point of the Axesse acquisition, HUCH clinicians relied on a single Varian IGRT system that provides 2D images, which is not ideal for soft tissue imaging. The Axesse system replaced a dated Varian Clinac® 600C machine.
“Especially for lung and pelvic tumors, 3D cone beam CT beats a pair of orthogonal 2D images in terms of image quality and ability to generate images using a low dose,” he adds. “Axesse has increased the number of image guided treatments by around 20 percent.”
In addition to 3D image guided localization at the time of treatment, Axesse provides ultra-conformal beam shaping with Beam Modulator™, the HexaPOD™ patient positioning system featuring six degrees (x,y,z, roll, pitch, yaw) of remote positional correction, non-invasive patient immobilization and advanced treatment planning with Monaco.
“Axesse has taken its place here at HUCH by clearly showing the value of 3D imaging over 2D imaging,” Dr. Tenhunen says.
Learn more about Elekta Axesse at www.elekta.com/Axesse.
* Approval of indications may vary between different countries. Additional regulatory clearances may be required in some markets.
Eastern European User Meeting
To further develop the capabilities and cohesiveness of Elekta users in Eastern European countries, Elekta and its Russian distributor, MSM Medimpex, organized the first Eastern European Users Meeting, which convened in Moscow, June 24-25, at the Renaissance Moscow Monarch Centre Hotel. More than 80 customers from over 40 different centers in Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine participated in the gathering, which featured presentations and interactive discussions on a wide variety of technological and cancer management topics.
“Once a region reaches a ‘critical mass’ in acquisitions of our cancer management solutions, it becomes vital to build a stronger support network around them,” says Irina Sandin, Elekta Business Director for Eastern Europe. “That encompasses not only this important first users meeting, but also commitments to ensure our Eastern European customers are trained in the proper use of their equipment and that they receive ongoing clinical support. It also includes clinical collaborations, the establishment of helpdesks and reinforcement of our parts and service organizations.”
The energy level of Elekta’s first Eastern European Users Meeting was particularly high, as more than half of the participating centers had been awarded new equipment during the last two to three years through national programs designed to improve cancer care services to regional populations, Sandin adds.
“From the first presentation, the format of lively and open debate was set,” Prof. A.V.Boyko, Head of Radiation Therapy Division of Hertsen Oncology Institute (Moscow) says. “Presenters and attendees demonstrated significant improvements in clinical results, which were directly related to their use of modern radiation therapy equipment and techniques. The forum also presented an opportunity to discuss hot topics and share their experiences among their peers in a setting they rarely had up to this point.”
Among the significant outcomes of the conference was the establishment and new relations between business, science and medical representatives. For example, Elekta, MSM and another distributor agreed to organize and conduct specialized training courses for doctors and medical physicists, both in leading European clinics and in regional countries, provided in the residents’ languages. The group also planned to develop support services, such as remote consultations on treatment methods and treatment planning.
“The Elekta/MSM initiative on targeted training for clinical professionals will address a need in Russia to harmonize training to the standards of our leading universities,” says A.P. Chernyaev, Vice-Rector of Moscow State University, where the training center will be located.
In addition to user presentations, Elekta representatives gave three talks on the subjects of patient safety and quality assurance, new IGRT solutions with Clarity™ soft tissue visualization and updates to MOSAIQ® oncology information system.
Read more at: http://www.elekta.com/healthcare_international_press_release_20071295.php.
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