ZION, Ill., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center in Zion, Ill., today announced the addition of the TomoTherapy HI-ART System to their radiation department. TomoTherapy is the most advanced radiation delivery system available, providing precise delivery to tumor sites while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Unlike current radiation therapies, the integrated system does not require patient transfer, containing all patient information in a central unit to minimize errors.
Before each treatment, the system takes Verification/Registration Computed Tomography (VRCT) images of the tumor site to verify its exact size, shape and location. During treatment, the radiation beam rotates 360 degrees while the patient enters the system in a reclined position. The rotating beam allows for accurately shaped radiation as prescribed by the physician, successfully treating both large tumors and multiple sites simultaneously. Traditional therapies projected radiation onto the tumor from a few different directions.
"This is an exciting new advancement in radiation therapy that will reduce exposure of healthy tissue to unnecessary radiation, allowing us to improve treatment for all of our patients," says Bernard Eden, MD, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at CTCA. "Patients who would otherwise be untreatable because they have reached their maximum tolerance dose with traditional radiation or have tumors in sensitive areas may be able to receive additional radiation treatments. Additionally, all patients may experience reduced treatment side effects."
The new technology was delivered to CTCA in early April, and the first patients are expected to receive treatment in late May. Construction is currently underway on a radiation vault for the TomoTherapy System.
Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is a network of cancer treatment hospitals and community oncology programs in Illinois, Oklahoma and Washington. The facilities provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary path to cancer care by integrating cutting-edge medical treatments with support therapies like nutrition, naturopathy, psychological counseling and spiritual therapy. For more information on CTCA, visit http://www.cancercenter.com/ or call 1.888.931.9299.
Cancer Treatment Centers of AmericaCONTACT: Amy Allen, +1-312-494-8540, aallen@magnet.com , or ElissaArmstrong, +1-312-494-8532, earmstrong@magnet.com , both of Euro RSCG Magnet
Web site: http://www.cancercenter.com/
