Medanta – The Medicity has made a significant leap in its cancer care program by installing the advanced Varian EDGE radiation therapy system. Consequently, this marks the hospital as the first in India to launch a machine equipped with key innovations, including IDENTIFY surface-guided technology, HyperArc, and RapidArc Dynamic therapy. The new platform introduces a revolutionary standard of Precision Radiotherapy for patients across the country.
The system is designed to significantly reduce treatment duration, cutting the typical radiation delivery time to nearly one minute per session for most cancers. Furthermore, it achieves sub-millimetric accuracy to precisely target tumours, thereby minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Medanta Chairman Dr Naresh Trehan stated that advanced technology is crucial to the hospital’s commitment to patient-centric care and its ethos of ‘Har Ek Jaan Anmol’.
Revolutionising Treatment: The Varian EDGE Platform
The Varian EDGE system utilises a high-focus radiation beam to target the DNA in cancer cells, proving highly effective at eradicating unwanted cells. Clinicians can use the platform to treat a wide array of malignancies, including multiple brain metastases, head and neck cancers, breast cancer, and lung cancer. In addition, the system is also suitable for treating select benign brain conditions.
Dr Tejinder Kataria, Chairperson of Radiation Oncology at Medanta’s Cancer Care, highlighted that the new system boosts both clinical accuracy and patient comfort. She affirms that it enables highly precise radiation delivery for even the most complex and high-risk tumours, improving the overall patient experience.
Enhanced Safety and Accuracy with Precision Radiotherapy
A central feature of the system is the integration of IDENTIFY real-time surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT). This technology enables continuous monitoring of the patient’s position. Therefore, the system automatically corrects or halts radiation if any movement is detected.
This advanced motion management capability enhances safety for patients of all age groups. Importantly, it eliminates the need for thermoplastic immobilisation casts in most cases. For example, the SGRT system can track chest movements for respiratory gating, allowing patients to breathe normally during lung cancer treatment. For medical professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in managing complex cancer cases, understanding these advanced therapeutic modalities is essential, perhaps by exploring a Certification Course In Clinical Oncology.
The Varian EDGE also features HyperArc and RapidArc Dynamic therapy. HyperArc, a dedicated solution for intracranial targets, improves target coverage and conformity while sparing critical organs like the brainstem and optic nerves. RapidArc Dynamic reduces treatment planning time from hours to mere minutes. These features allow clinicians to customize radiation dose distribution with exceptional precision. Moreover, HyperArc significantly shortens the beam-on time for multiple brain lesions, with sessions potentially lasting under ten minutes. Expertise in advanced radiotherapy techniques is critical for effective Oncology Speciality Courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the primary benefits of the Varian EDGE system for the patient?
The primary benefits are significantly shorter treatment times (down to approximately one minute per session), sub-millimetric targeting precision to protect healthy tissue, and enhanced comfort due to the IDENTIFY system eliminating the need for rigid immobilisation casts in most cases.
Q2: What is the significance of the IDENTIFY surface-guided technology?
IDENTIFY is a real-time surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) system that continuously monitors the patient’s position using infrared cameras. Consequently, if the patient moves, the system automatically corrects positioning or stops the radiation, thus ensuring precise dose delivery and safety.
Q3: What types of cancers can be treated with this advanced technology?
The Varian EDGE system treats a wide variety of cancers and conditions. This includes multiple brain metastases, head and neck cancers, breast cancer, lung cancer, and select benign brain conditions. For physicians focusing on pulmonary malignancies, specialised training is available in the Certification Course In Lung Cancer.
References
- Medanta installs advanced Varian EDGE radiation therapy system – ETHealthworld
- RapidArc Dynamic and Hypersight | Icon Cancer Centre UK
- India’s first Varian Edge with RapidArc Dynamic, Identify and HyperArc |Medanta |Dr Tejinder Kataria – YouTube
- HyperArc | Varian
- Comparison of dosimetric parameters for HyperArc, RapidArc, virtual… – ResearchGate
- Comparison between Hyperarc and Dynamic Arc Planning for Multiple Central Nervous System Lesions.
Disclaimer: This article was automatically generated from publicly available sources and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. OC Academy does not exercise editorial control or claim authorship over this content. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider and refer to current local and national clinical guidelines.