Radiotherapy – Radiation Treatment with TrueBeam STx

Today, the treatment of cancer with radiotherapy also follows the principle of “targeted irradiation.” Radiation treatment technologies focus on the cancerous area, achieving greater treatment success while causing the least possible damage to healthy cells.

TrueBeam STx is a new-generation radiotherapy device that can use all radiotherapy techniques together and at an advanced level in oncology treatment. Three-dimensional treatments (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric ARC treatments can all be performed together. The device also allows stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), making it the instrument offering the broadest spectrum of radiotherapy treatment options.

The device stands out particularly for its stereotactic features. Stereotactic radiotherapy methods deliver high doses of radiation in a single session or a few sessions.

Targeted irradiation technology

TrueBeam STx, the latest generation of radiation treatment technology in cancer treatment, is used in Radiation Oncology to irradiate tumors anywhere in the body. Compared with the systems that previously made their names in this field, Gama Knife and Cyber Knife TrueBeam STx can offer patients very important advantages and has the ability to perform radiotherapy and radiosurgery together as part of its features. While Gama Knife can irradiate only intracranial tumors, Truebeam STx is used for all tumors in the body as well as intracranial tumors. Cyber Knife can be applied to every part of the body but does not have the ability to effectively irradiate large tumors. Truebeam STx technology also has the ability to effectively irradiate large tumors that can occur anywhere in the body.

The system uses many technical innovations, including robotic imaging, automatic patient positioning, motion management and completely redesigned control features to dynamically synchronize treatment. It is generally used successfully in treating tumors in areas that are difficult to reachwithin the body. What distinguishes TrueBeam STx from similar technologies is its ability to deliver a higher dose in a much shorter time through its capacity to reach high dose rates, thereby providing high-performance treatment processes that significantly reduce session duration and number.

Tumor detection and irradiation capability

TrueBeam is used to treat all types of cancer requiring radiotherapy through a system that targets and tracks the tumor and delivers pinpoint irradiation with millimeter precision. The most important feature of the treatment device is locating the tumor using 3 dimensional images obtained before and during treatment and allowing the beams to continuously target the tumor. Tumors generally do not have regular shapes. TrueBeam STx shapes the beams to fit the tumor’s shape, thus allowing the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor to receive a lower dose.

Imaging system simultaneous with treatment

TrueBeam STx, through its respiratory tracking system makes a major difference particularly in the treatment of lung, breast, prostate and spinal region cancers. It also enables “Gated” RapidArc technology, which continuously rotates around the patient, synchronizes the delivered dose with imaging and compensates by taking tumor motion into account. Another feature of the system is that imaging simultaneous with treatment makes it possible to check whether the beam is targeting the tumor precisely. It is used in treating benign and malignant brain tumors, Acoustic Neuroma, Cavernoma, Hypoz Adenomas, Meningioma, Liver Tumors / Metastases, Lung Tumors / Metastases, Craniopharyngioma, Pediatric Brain Tumors, Gliomas, Prostate Cancer, Spinal Tumors / Metastases, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Adrenal Metastases, Pancreatic Tumors, Head - Neck Cancers and Oligometastases.

Simultaneous administration of radiotherapy and radiosurgery

The TrueBeam STx device has a feature that gives it an advantage over other radiotherapy devices by performing radiotherapy and radiosurgery on the same platform. Through its radiosurgery capability, called focal radiotherapy, TrueBeam provides treatment aimed at destroying tumors smaller than 3 centimeters. Radiosurgery is applied as an alternative to surgery for some tumors.

Short treatment time

TrueBeam STx technology offers patients greater comfort by shortening treatment times, and provides more accurate irradiation by leaving less time for tumor movements during its very rapid dose delivery. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy treatment, which normally takes 10-15 minutes, can be performed in less than 5 minutes. A complex radiosurgery procedure lasting from 40 minutes to 2 hours can also be completed in 5 to 20 minutes.