Addenbrooke’s boosts VMAT for prostate cancer
In the back row are trainee physicist Tom Hague, head of radiotherapy Katharine Walker, research physicist Mark Ashburner and radiographers Cecelia Tawse, June Dean and Nicola Robinson. In front are Elekta applications specialist Ian Morgan, radiographer Graham Cone, senior physicist Rosie Plaistow and radiographers Sophie Glavin and Stuart Archer.
At Addenbrooke’s Hospital, more prostate cancer patients are receiving volumetric modulated arc therapy due to the integration of advanced beam-shaping technology and VMAT software in two Elekta treatment machines that the hospital acquired in 2011 and 2012.
“These machines are increasing the numbers of prostate cancer patients in our department that can benefit by having IMRT,” says head of radiotherapy physics Dr Simon Thomas. “VMAT delivery enables us to create good IMRT plans that provide optimal sparing of nearby critical structures. In addition, the five millimetre leaves of the Agility MLC allow us to conform more precisely to the shape of the prostate.”
See the full report on page 12 of the September 2013 issue of RAD Magazine.
