Tech boost for radiation therapy at city hospital

WITH even greater precision in delivering high doses of radiotherapy for the treatment of cancers, patients are experiencing the benefits of the advanced Varian Trilogy linear accelerator that was recently installed at Netcare N1 City Hospital’s oncology and interventional centre.

Radiation oncologist Dr John Sauer said the non-invasive Varian Trilogy linear accelerator is equipped with infrared cameras that continuously monitor the patient’s position, an addition to the ExacTrac X-ray positioning system that provides the highest treatment accuracy available on the market, and makes use of a specialised robotic bed which has the capability to make micro adjustments in six dimensions.

“A feature of this technology is that the radiation therapists are able to monitor the positioning in real time, so that the therapeutic radiation dose can be delivered with sub-millimetre mechanical accuracy.”

Sauer added that the Varian Trilogy system is highly versatile, as it is equipped for “stereotactic body radiation therapy” whereby radiation is delivered from various angles to focus a high dose on the targeted lesion.

This can be achieved through using conventional treatment techniques, intensity modulated radiotherapy techniques, or by way of Varian’s patented RapidArc technique.

Netcare’s executive responsible for oncology, Noeleen Phillipson said “The centre specialises, among other things, in stereotactic irradiation.

“This new treatment system expands the therapeutic radiation treatment options available, as it can rotate 360 degrees around the patient to deliver high-precision treatments in various applications.”

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said oncology costs remained a major challenge for many cancer patients.