Shaped Beam Surgery for Tumors

The system expands the capabilities of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), allowing radiosurgery to be used for such hard-to-reach areas as the neck, spine, and liver. For many patients, these areas may not be candidates for surgery because of the increased risk of harming critical structures near the tumor. Also, some patients may have other illnesses that preclude the use of traditional surgery. Since the new system, called Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery, requires no incision, complications are minimized and patients can be awake for the entire procedure. This takes only about 30 minutes, and patients can return home the same day.

The Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery system includes radiation planning and delivery software and a modified micromultileaf linear accelerator. The system was developed by BrainLab (Munich, Germany).


"A shaped beam gives us the highest degree of precision, so we know we're reaching every part of the tumor from every angle,” said Dr. Wayne Jenkins, radiation oncologist and medical director of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando (FL, USA). "As the tumor changes shape and size during treatment, so does the treatment beam.” The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is one of the US sites now offering this surgery.







Related Links:
M.D. Anderson Center
BrainLab