Brachytherapy News and Research

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Brachytherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the use of radioactive seeds the size of rice grains. Brachytherapy, an out-patient procedure, usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to perform. Most patients can return to their normal activities within days. The success rates of prostate brachytherapy have compared favorably with success rates of radical prostatectomy and external beam radiation. In comparison studies, prostate brachytherapy has shown to have a favorable side effect profile when compared with other modalities. Clinical studies have shown that prostate brachytherapy has a cure rate of 94% for appropriately selected patients.

St James's Institute of Oncology orders two Versa HD systems to improve patient care

St James's Institute of Oncology, a leading radiotherapy center in the UK, recently ordered two Versa HD™ systems, an advanced linear accelerator designed to improve patient care and treat a wide range of tumors throughout the body.

From Elekta 28 May 2013

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre signs research agreement to evaluate MRI-guided radiation therapy

Elekta and Royal Philips Electronics announced today that Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Toronto, Canada) will join their growing consortium to validate the clinical potential of MRI-guided radiation therapy.

From Elekta 10 May 2013

NKI-AVL joins research consortium to develop MRI-guided radiation therapy system for cancer care

Elekta and Royal Philips Electronics announced today that The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital has signed an agreement to join a research group to advance the development of ground-breaking image-guided treatment technology for cancer care.

From Elekta 23 Apr 2013

Study: Image-guided brachytherapy prevents growth of cervical tumour in over 90% of patients

Two large, landmark radiotherapy studies have shown that it is possible to treat cervical cancer effectively with high doses specifically adapted to each tumour, and with fewer serious side-effects to the surrounding normal organs.

22 Apr 2013

Study shows brachytherapy is underused in the UK

Better outcomes can be achieved for prostate cancer patients using brachytherapy, a highly targeted form of radiotherapy, compared to surgery - this is the finding of a new study conducted by PANAXEA, The University of Twente, Netherlands.

From Elekta 22 Apr 2013

Newly redesigned Flexitron brachytherapy afterloading platform to be introduced at ABS meeting

At the 2013 American Brachytherapy Society meeting April 18-20 in New Orleans, Nucletron, an Elekta company, (booth #300), will introduce its newly redesigned Flexitron remote afterloading platform.

From Elekta 19 Apr 2013

MD Anderson Cancer Center buys two Elekta Versa HD linear accelerators

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas) has purchased two Elekta Versa HD™ linear accelerators. The radiation therapy system, which recently received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, features the versatility to deliver high-volume conventional techniques, in addition to the most advanced linear-accelerator treatments that require the greatest targeting precision.

From Elekta 18 Apr 2013

FDA clears Elekta's Versa HD radiation therapy system

Elekta recently received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), allowing the company to begin shipping and installation of all components of the Versa HD™ system within the United States. Featuring high precision beam shaping and tumor targeting, and capable of delivering radiation doses three times faster than previous Elekta linear accelerators, Versa HD sets a higher benchmark for cancer treatment.

From Elekta 12 Apr 2013

Elekta's Versa HD system accelerates radiation delivery to new levels

Featuring a revolutionary combination of speed and accuracy, Elekta's new Versa HD system will help clinicians at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (Withington, Manchester) maximize the precision of therapeutic beams on the tumor target, while also accelerating radiation delivery to new levels.

From Elekta 10 Apr 2013

NeuroBlate Thermal Therapy System safe for treating recurrent glioblastoma, study shows

The first-in-human study of the NeuroBlate Thermal Therapy System finds that it appears to provide a new, safe and minimally invasive procedure for treating recurrent glioblastoma, a malignant type of brain tumor.

6 Apr 2013

Cancer patients to get benefit from Elekta's Versa HD system at Hôpital Riviera's radiotherapy clinic

Cancer patients referred to Hôpital Riviera's (Vevey, Switzerland) new radiotherapy clinic will soon benefit from the center's acquisition of Elekta's advanced new linear accelerator, Versa HD.

From Elekta 27 Mar 2013

Elekta launches Versa HD system to treat cancers

During a live global event, Elekta announced the launch of Versa HD, an advanced linear accelerator system designed to improve patient care and treat a broader spectrum of cancers.

From Elekta 2 Mar 2013

iCAD fourth quarter total revenue increases 18% to $7.8 million

iCAD, Inc., an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapy for the early identification and treatment of cancer, today reported financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2012.

19 Feb 2013

Combination RT offers hope to late-stage esophageal cancer patients

Just over half of patients with advanced-stage esophageal cancer who are unsuitable for standard curative treatment survive for a year after receiving a combination of external beam radiotherapy and high-dose rate brachytherapy, report researchers.

7 Feb 2013

IsoRay announces presentation video on metastatic brain cancers by Cornell Weill

IsoRay Inc., a medical technology company and innovator in seed brachytherapy and medical radioisotope applications, today announced the presentation video by Cornell Weill demonstrating their techniques in the successful treatment of metastatic brain cancers using IsoRay's patented Cesium-131 (Cs-131) sutured seeds.

6 Feb 2013

Delayed hematuria common after prostate brachytherapy

A significant proportion of patients with prostate cancer who are treated with brachytherapy develop gross hematuria years later, report researchers.

4 Feb 2013

RaySearch Laboratories receives order for RayStation treatment planning from Spain

RaySearch Laboratories AB has received an order for its RayStation® treatment planning from Consorcio Hospitalario Provincial de Castellón in Castellón, Spain.

25 Jan 2013

Surgical methods outperform radiation therapy in prostate cancer

A surgical method for treating localized prostate cancer may be a better option for patients than radiation therapy, show findings from a cost-effectiveness analysis.

9 Jan 2013

New study compares costs and outcomes associated with prostate cancer treatments

The most comprehensive retrospective study ever conducted comparing how the major types of prostate cancer treatments stack up to each other in terms of saving lives and cost effectiveness is reported this week by a team of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco.

7 Jan 2013

Perceived reduction in penis size linked to regrets of prostate cancer treatment choice

A small percentage of men in a prostate cancer study complained that their penis seemed shorter following treatment, with some saying that it interfered with intimate relationships and caused them to regret the type of treatment they chose.

3 Jan 2013