ATLANTA, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas) will add Elekta’s Leksell Gamma Knife(R) Perfexion(TM), an advanced radiosurgery device specifically designed to treat one or more lesions in the head in a single session, to their radiation oncology department.
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“Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion suits our clinical needs,” says Eric Chang, M.D., Director of M. D. Anderson’s Central Nervous System Stereotactic Radiation Program. “The device will be used initially to treat primary brain and skull base tumors as well as single and multiple brain metastases in a single session.”
Designed to extend the system’s reach down to the level of the skull base and cervical spine, Perfexion is scheduled to be delivered to M. D. Anderson by March 2009 and should be operational by mid-2009, he adds.
“Elekta is committed to supporting radiosurgery and neuro-oncology by providing highly refined tools that support specific clinical objectives, yet share a common foundation in terms of image and information management,” says Joseph K. Jachinowski, President and CEO of Elekta North America. “The result is a complete line of stereotactic treatment solutions designed to meet the goals of any type of radiosurgery program.”
About Leksell Gamma Knife(R) Perfexion(TM)
Leksell Gamma Knife(R) Perfexion(TM) is the most advanced radiosurgery system on the market for head treatments and the latest version of Elekta’s Leksell Gamma Knife, a complete system for intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery or Gamma Knife(R) surgery. Perfexion, now in clinical use in 23 locations across North America, has been specifically designed to improve patient comfort and treatment time through advanced automation. Treatment applications have also been extended to include all areas of the head, down to the regions of the cervical spine.
The non-invasive treatment is shaped by 192 simultaneously focused beams of ionizing radiation that have sufficient penetration to reach even the most deeply seated tumors. The system delivers prescribed doses/shots of radiation, in compliance with a treatment plan, to the exact target site, thereby sparing surrounding tissues. Gamma Knife surgery has many advantages. The risk of complications, as compared to open surgery, is less and it is a gentler form of treatment for the patient. Gamma Knife surgery can normally be performed in a day, and convalescence is extremely short. The technique, supported by over three decades of clinical practice, is performed for over 50,000 patients each year. To date, more than 500,000 patients around the world have undergone Gamma Knife surgery.
About Elekta
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated state of the art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.
Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to help in the cure of cancer patients with curable disease and to improve the quality of life of those patients with metastatic disease, making the future possible today.
Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group.
Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please visit www.elekta.com.
About M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is located on the campus of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. It is one of the world’s most respected centers devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention.
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is one of the nation’s original three Comprehensive Cancer Centers designated by the National Cancer Act of 1971 and is one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers today.
In 2008, U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” survey ranked M. D. Anderson as the top hospital in the nation for cancer care. M. D. Anderson has achieved the top ranking four times in the past six years and has ranked as one of the top two hospitals for cancer care for 19 years, since the magazine began its annual survey in 1990.
CONTACT: Michelle Lee, Elekta, Inc., +1-770-670-2447,
michelle.lee@elekta.com
Web site: http://www.elekta.com/
