25 May 2012 | News | By BioSpectrum Bureau
Thailand, Philippines get TomoTherapy System by Accuray
TomoTherapy, which combines image-guided technology and radiation treatment delivery capabilities, can address almost all types of cancers
Singapore: Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital in Thailand and Makati Medical Center in Philippines have begun treating patients with TomoTherapy System, a fully-integrated, 3D image-guided intensity modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) developed by US-based Accuray. The TomoTherapy System allows Chiangmai University Hospital and MakatiMed to offer patients a non-invasive, personalized option for the treatment of tumors throughout the body, making these two hospitals the first-in-country installed sites of the TomoTherapy System in the ASEAN region.
"Being one of the most reputable hospitals and the first hospital with TomoTherapy Hi Art System available in Northern Thailand, we are committed to providing patients the best technological innovations for cancer care and the highest quality of healthcare services," said Dr Somsak Wanwilairat, chief physicist, Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. "We recognize that the IMRT for treating a wide range of cancers is a viable option to meet the needs of a diverse patient population across 17 provinces in the northern region and foreign patients with shortened room treatment time."
"TomoTherapy perfectly combines image-guided technology and radiation treatment delivery capabilities. We can address almost all types of cancers, from irregularly shaped tumors to long treatment fields like multiple tumors along the spine or in the brain," said Dr Kathleen Baldivia, head of MakatiMed's Radiation Oncology Section. "With the radiation beam further subdivided into beamlets, TomoTherapy allows doctors to give varying doses across one treatment area, thus resulting in reduced toxicity and improving patients' quality of life."
The TomoTherapy System combines a revolutionary design, with industry-leading treatment precision and daily image guidance for true treatment accuracy. The TomoTherapy System is a fully-integrated, 3D image-guided intensity modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) system. Through daily CT imaging, the TomoTherapy System allows clinicians to give each patient accurate and high quality individualized treatments specifically tailored to their needs. Unique helical delivery means a broader range of tumors can be treated, expanding options for more patients.