Varian Medical Systems said that the newly-equipped radiotherapy departments at the Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medicine Faculty, the American Hospital MD Anderson Center and the Istanbul University Oncology Institute have begun treatments using the new linear accelerators and plans are underway to initiate RapidArc treatments.
RapidArc delivers a volumetric intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatment in a single or multiple arcs of the treatment machine around the patient and makes it possible to deliver advanced image-guided intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) two to eight times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT.
As well as allowing for a more comfortable experience for patients with less time on the treatment couch, faster delivery also allows for reduced chances of patient motion during treatment, which helps to protect nearby healthy tissue and critical organs, said the company.
Erkan Topuz, professor and manager of the Istanbul University Oncology Institute, said: “We are determined to make Istanbul number one in the world for cancer treatment and the new equipment that we have installed enables us to target tumors precisely and spare more healthy tissues.”
Tolgay Kurt, general manager of Varinak and representative of Varian in Turkey, said: “Turkey has been investing in its radiotherapy infrastructure and Varian has been selected to supply many of these projects with advanced hardware and software. Health authorities in Istanbul are intent on providing world-class radiotherapy facilities for the growing cancer population.
“Within the framework of this national investment, doctors are keen to offer their patients the newest treatment techniques. RapidArc has proven to be a highly preferred option, as the clinical and workflow benefits are clear.”
