Elekta has treated a 64-year-old female mediastinal metastasis patient with VMAT radiotherapy treatment enhanced with Monaco planning software in Latin America. A key feature of Monaco is the Monte Carlo dose engine, which ensures the possible therapeutic radiation hits the cancer target, while minimising the dose to normal healthy tissues.
Using the arc-based Elekta VMAT delivery method, Monaco displays how the radiation dose should be applied to its distribution and strength on the target. The result is a therapy that is not only rapid, but also fine-tuned to treat cancer and avoid healthy tissues.
Elekta said that the patient has completed her five VMAT treatment sessions at OCA Hospital, each of which lasted less than five minutes. The private medical center, OCA Hospital in Mexico is the fifth center to utilise the combined radiation therapy planning and delivery solution.
OCA Hospital has used the technique to treat four additional patients: one with parotid cancer, a patient with a gastrointestinal stromal (GIST) tumor, a third patient with rectal cancer and a patient with prostate cancer.
In addition to its Elekta VMAT/Monaco first, OCA Hospital was the first medical center in Latin America to install Elekta Synergy, a treatment system equipped with advanced imaging technology to visualize the tumor and critical structures with the patient in the treatment position at the time of treatment.
Genaro Levinson, president and CEO of OCA Hospital, said: “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.
“OCA leadership and senior management determined to upgrade our oncology department with technology, including how we could improve Elekta Synergy. We wanted to be one step ahead of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy [IMRT] with static segments, which we had been doing successfully for years. We envisioned VMAT as an excellent alternative for dynamic IMRT using rapid volumetric arcs.”