ATLANTA, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurologists now recommend regular MRI brain scans for patients with lung, breast, and other cancers that carry a high-risk of brain metastasis, according to an Associated Press article released earlier this month. The recommendation stems from the availability of sophisticated new treatments - including stereotactic radiosurgery - for metastatic brain tumors that are detected early.
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Neurologists from the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN) and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center explained that cancer patients are surviving longer, which increases the risk of metastatic brain tumors. Up to 40 percent of lung cancer patients and 33 percent of breast cancer patients develop these tumors. Patients with melanoma, kidney cancer, and colon cancer are also at risk. Routine brain scans can detect these tumors, which can be treated with drugs as well as stereotactic radiosurgery.
Among the sophisticated radiosurgery treatment options for patients at CINN is Gamma Knife(R) surgery. There is also a Leksell Gamma Knife(R) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Overall, Leksell Gamma Knife(R) is installed at more than 100 facilities in the U.S. (for center locations, visit http://www.elekta.com).
Leksell Gamma Knife(R) from Elekta remains the solution of choice and the standard of care for intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery.
"The combination of early detection and Gamma Knife(R) surgery provides one of the best possible outcomes for patients who are treated via stereotactic radiosurgery," says Jim Rose, VP Marketing, North America. "It also offers the gentlest care. Because the procedure is wholly noninvasive, patients often go home the same day they receive treatment."
Often referred to as "the gold standard" for radiosurgery, the Leksell Gamma Knife(R) from Elekta is the standard of care for neurosurgery, with thousands of published papers on treatment efficacy and improved quality of life for patients.
Gamma Knife(R) surgery is a noninvasive method for treating targets in the brain. It delivers a single, high dose of irradiation to the precisely located target, without harming the surrounding healthy tissue.
About Elekta
Elekta is an international medical technology group, providing meaningful clinical solutions, comprehensive information systems and services for improved cancer care and management of brain disorders. All of Elekta's solutions employ non-invasive or minimally invasive techniques and are therefore clinically effective, gentle on the patient and cost-effective.
Clinical solutions include Leksell Gamma Knife(R) for non-invasive treatment of brain disorders and Elekta Synergy(R) for image guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Following the acquisition of IMPAC Medical Systems Inc. in April 2005, the Elekta Group became the world's largest supplier of oncology software.
Elekta's systems and solutions are used in over 3,000 hospitals around the world to treat cancer and to manage clinical operations as well as to diagnose and treat brain disorders, including tumors, vascular malformations and functional disorders.
With approximately 1,700 employees, Elekta's corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange under the ticker EKTAb.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020318/ELEKTALOGOPRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comElekta, Inc.CONTACT: Media, Michelle Lee, PR and Advertising Manager, +1-770-670-2447,or michelle.lee@elekta.com; or Investors, Lars Jonsteg, VP InvestorRelations, North America, Elekta, USA, +46 708 78 37 35, orlars.jonsteg@elekta.com; or International Investors, Peter Ejemyr, Group VPCorporate Communications, +46 733 611 000, or peter.ejemyr@elekta.com, allof Elekta Instruments, Inc.
Web site: http://www.elekta.com//