EVERYDAY IMRT – EVERY DAY

PreciseBEAM® – the clinical evidence

Elekta pioneered the International IMRT Consortium, consisting of clinics in both Europe and North America, in 1995. A substantial body of scientific and clinical publications was generated and is available to clinics that are starting a PreciseBEAM practice. The practical research into the IMRT process from this long-term partnership is input to Elekta equipment design.

The Consortium has delivered IMRT using several techniques: segmental (step-and-shoot), dynamic (sliding window), and intensity modulated arc therapy – an Elekta patent that shows great promise for future delivery.

Maintaining patient throughput

Elekta recognized that radiation therapists (technologist, dosimetrist) plan an important role in the IMRT team, and designed equipment that maintained smooth patient flow and improved treatment delivery. Elekta's Desktop Pro™ control system has the same familiar user interface for any prescription – including IMRT. Likewise, using iViewGT™ MV portal images during IMRT segment delivery for verification requires no additional effort from the user or changes to workflow or protocols. By ensuring that delivery and verification of IMRT is comparable to non-IMRT treatments, patient throughput is maintained.

Evolution not revolution

PreciseBEAM is an integrated solution that uses a digital platform to deliver IMRT in segmental mode. The Desktop Pro control system provides the largest IMRT field in the industry. Control of geometry and dosimetry is integrated in the singe control system, giving tight coupling of dose delivery with leaf position verification. Accurate and stable beam control ensures a dose accuracy of <3% over 10MU, vital during the sequential delivery of low dose IMRT fields. The Elekta range of linear accelerators have rapid beam start-up, and excellent dose accuracy during the delivery of low dose sequential IMRT fields, through accurate and stable beam control.

Providing support for PreciseBEAM implementation

The Elekta International IMRT Consortium showed the importance of the collaboration between the Radiation Oncologist, Medical Physicist, Dosimetrist and Radiation Therapist team – all have an active and vital role to play in achieving a successful IMRT program.