Novel motion management system and true stereotactic imaging enable highly accurate frameless radiosurgery
STOCKHOLM SE — Wednesday, August 31, 2016Elekta today announced new data demonstrating the feasibility of adaptive fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using Leksell Gamma Knife® Icon™ for the treatment of brain lesions. The study, published in Strahlentherapie und Onkologie, reports the use of Icon to treat a meningioma resolved the patient’s neurological symptoms following five treatment sessions.[1]
Icon is the latest technological advance in Elekta’s Gamma Knife radiosurgery platform, the world’s most clinically proven radiosurgery technique. Icon integrates novel stereotactic cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging, both frame-based and frameless immobilization alternatives, high definition motion management and online adaptive treatment planning software. The system is making cranial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) available to more patients by offering multiple treatment sessions over time with similar accuracy as frame-based single-session radiosurgery. This enables treatment of larger tumor volumes, targets close to critical brain structures and either single or multiple session frameless treatments.
One of the Leksell Gamma Knife indications is meningioma, a typically slow-growing benign brain tumor that can cause neurological symptoms. The established radiotherapy treatment regimens for meningioma include single-session SRS and full-course radiotherapy, typically performed in 30 sessions over the course of six weeks.
The case study describes a 76-year-old woman who received adaptive fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy in just five treatment sessions. The total treatment time in sessions two through five was approximately 20 minutes. Post-treatment clinical follow-up visits at six weeks and four months respectively showed that the patient did not have any neurological symptoms.
“We are pleased to report this notable case study demonstrating that Icon has made fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy possible and we believe it has extensive utility for use in additional patients with brain tumors,” said lead study author Florian Stieler, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology at the University Medical Center Mannheim. “The combination of Icon’s integrated stereotactic cone beam CT to assure correct positioning and the high-definition motion management system tracking the movements of the patient, together with the adaptive dose planning system, helped to ensure that an accurate dose was delivered in each treatment session. The ability to use this application to treat lesions that are close to critical brain structures may also offer new treatment options to patients who previously were not suitable candidates for radiosurgery.”
Maurits Wolleswinkel, EVP Marketing and Strategy at Elekta, added, “This landmark case demonstrates that Leksell Gamma Knife Icon is a diverse treatment option, suitable for a wide variety of patients. Icon enables extremely precise dose delivery in frame-based or frameless configurations, and substantially lowers radiation exposure to the entire body. Additionally, Icon enables an online adaptive workflow, ensuring that treatment is delivered as planned for every patient session.”
For more information on how Gamma Knife Icon works, visit www.careforthebrain.com.
[1] Stieler F, Wenz F, Abo-madyan Y, et al. Adaptive fractionated stereotactic Gamma Knife radiotherapy of meningioma using integrated stereotactic cone-beam-CT and adaptive re-planning (a-gkFSRT). Strahlenther Onkol. 2016.
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Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 6,000 hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,800 employees globally. The corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on NASDAQ Stockholm. Website: www.elekta.com Twitter: @Elekta.
Gert van Santen, Group Vice President Corporate Communications, Elekta AB
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Email: gert.vansanten@elekta.com
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Raven Canzeri, Global Public Relations Manager
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