Exeter extends oncology centre to deliver IMRT

Toshiba Medical Systems account executive Megan Newberry is pictured, left, at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital with radiotherapy services/oncology centre manager Geraldine Jenner, head of radiotherapy physics Steve Blake, lead radiotherapy planning radiographer Lee Merry, lead clinical oncologist Dr Peter Bliss, Toshiba Medical Systems engineer Steve Blake, Toshiba Medical Systems CT applications specialist Andrew Watson, radiotherapy treatment superintendent/technical lead radiographer Helen Slaney and Toshiba CT applications specialist Mark Condron.

The oncology centre at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust has been extended to house a Toshiba Aquilion LB CT system, the final part of a £6 million investment in the phased development of its cancer services.

The dedicated RT scanner means that the centre can develop the new treatments, including intensity modulated radiotherapy.  With the present thrust to deliver IMRT, which requires more scanning time, the centre found that two sessions per week using the radiology department’s scanner were insufficient, and the needs for radiotherapy CT planning could not be met.  Installation of a dedicated unit is also predicted to reduce waiting times and lead to increased clinical flexibility in patient scheduling.

Lead radiotherapy planning radiographer Lee Merry comments: “The extra large bore was an important factor in our decision to go with Toshiba, as it is currently the largest on the market and allows us to scan with optimum patient positioning,  not being restricted by bore size.  We also went on a site visit to an existing installation and were very impressed with the intuitive way the scanner and control console worked.”

See the full report on page 27 of the September 2012 issue of RAD Magazine.