Recently, a 64-year-old patient with mediastinal metastasis became the first woman in Latin America to get Elekta VMAT radiotherapy treatment improved with Monaco planning software. Monaco planning software uses the arc-based Elekta VMAT delivery method. It displays how the radiation dose should be applied – its distribution and strength on the target. With this feature, the patients receives a new form of therapy which is not only quick, but also fine-tuned to treat cancer without affecting healthy tissues.
The 64-year-old female patient completed her five Elekta VMAT treatment sessions at OCA Hospital. Each of these sessions lasted not more than five minutes. The largest private medical center in Mexico, OCA Hospital is the fifth center in the world that is exploiting the combined radiation therapy planning and delivery solution.
In a release Genaro Levinson who is the President and CEO of OCA Hospital said that "The speed of Elekta VMAT is reinforced with sophisticated Monaco planning, which helps us effectively plan around targets and organs-at-risk. Also, the Monte Carlo dose algorithm enhances the predictability of the dose, so we can confidently deliver the highest therapeutic dose."
Monte Carlo dose engine, a key feature of Monaco, guarantees the greatest possible therapeutic radiation intended to hit the cancer target. At the same time, it minimizes the dose to normal healthy tissues.
Since the deployment of this solution, OCA Hospital made use of technique to treat four additional patients. These include a patient with parotid cancer, a patient with a gastrointestinal stromal (GIST) tumor, another patient with rectal cancer and a patient with prostate cancer.
"OCA leadership and senior management determined to upgrade our oncology department with state-of-the-art technology, including how we could improve Elekta Synergy. We wanted to be one step ahead of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy [IMRT] with static segments. We envisioned VMAT as an excellent alternative for dynamic IMRT using rapid volumetric arcs", added Levinson.
Despite the installation of Elekta VMAT/Monaco, OCA Hospital ranks the first medical center in Latin America to install Elekta Synergy. Elekta Synergy is a treatment system set with sophisticated imaging technology in order to visualize the tumor and critical structures, with the patient in the treatment position at the time of treatment.
Carolyn John is a Contributor to HealthTechZone. To read more of her articles, please columnist page.Edited by
Alice Straight
