Tomotherapy: A new kind of high-precision radiotherapy in the fight against cancer at the MUHC

The latest in radiotherapy technology, this “image-guided radiotherapy” improves the accuracy of treatment and limits exposure to healthy tissues. Since tumours vary in size, location and their proximity to sensitive organs, tomotherapy offers a clear advantage when treating certain cancers and considerably improves the quality of patient care.

“We are very proud to have this new machine,” said Dr. Carolyn Freeman, MUHC Director of Radiation Oncology. “As a university health care centre, we are continuing our mandate by remaining on the cutting edge of technology and forging ahead in the fields of research and education.”

Tomotherapy is a new type of X-ray technology. It combines an intensity-modulated radiotherapy device with a scanner that detects the morphology of internal organs. The device travels around a patient lying down on a treatment table and delivers image-guided radiotherapy. This major technological innovation facilitates treatment through the delivery of intensity-modulated beams in three-dimensional space. “By combining an accelerator—which moves around and along the patient—with a scanner, this method provides continuous treatment no matter where the disease is located and follows the cancer’s progression over time,” stated Dr. Freeman.

Three-dimensional images precisely define tumour contours. These images allow doctors to adjust the size, shape and intensity of the beams in relation to the tumour’s unique characteristics, thus limiting the exposure of healthy tissue to radiation. If required, the scanner can also verify the location of the tumour before each treatment so that the patient’s treatment plan can be modified accordingly. A tumour can indeed move a few millimetres from one session to the next. “The advantage of this new technology for patients is that it improves the quality of care and treatment,” added Dr. Freeman.

About the McGill University Health Centre

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is a comprehensive academic health institution with an international reputation for excellence in clinical programs, research and teaching. The MUHC is a merger of five teaching hospitals affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University — the Montreal Children's, Montreal General, Royal Victoria, and Montreal Neurological hospitals, as well as the Montreal Chest Institute. Building on the tradition of medical leadership of the founding hospitals, the goal of the MUHC is to provide patient care based on the most advanced knowledge in the health care field, and to contribute to the development of new knowledge.

Media Contact

Seeta Ramdass McGill University Health Centre

More Information:

http://www.muhc.mcgill.ca

All latest news from the category: Medical Engineering

The development of medical equipment, products and technical procedures is characterized by high research and development costs in a variety of fields related to the study of human medicine.

innovations-report provides informative and stimulating reports and articles on topics ranging from imaging processes, cell and tissue techniques, optical techniques, implants, orthopedic aids, clinical and medical office equipment, dialysis systems and x-ray/radiation monitoring devices to endoscopy, ultrasound, surgical techniques, and dental materials.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

Lighting up the future

New multidisciplinary research from the University of St Andrews could lead to more efficient televisions, computer screens and lighting. Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre in the School of Physics and…

Researchers crack sugarcane’s complex genetic code

Sweet success: Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants….

Evolution of the most powerful ocean current on Earth

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current plays an important part in global overturning circulation, the exchange of heat and CO2 between the ocean and atmosphere, and the stability of Antarctica’s ice sheets….

Partners & Sponsors