Baptist and South Miami Hospitals’ Radiation Oncology Departments have added new technology that will improve the precision and effectiveness of cancer treatments. The new system will improve radiation oncologists’ ability to accurately target and track tumors.
The departments have installed an On-Board Imager (OBI) to a linear accelerator, which will allow patients to receive highly effective Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT). The OBI is an automated system that uses high-resolution X-rays to produce images of the tumor and surrounding tissue before the delivery of radiation and will be incorporated into the linear accelerator’s existing Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) capability.
The new technology allows doctors to overcome the challenges of precisely locating the tumor prior to radiation. Before OBI, doctors would have to treat a larger area of tissue around the tumor to compensate for any normal tumor shifting within the body.
However, treating a larger area may have exposed healthy tissue to the radiation. OBI improves targeting accuracy and allows higher, cancer-killing doses of radiation to be delivered directly to the tumor. The technology is especially useful for cancers of the head and neck, prostate, and those that are close to the spinal cord or other critical structure.
“The On-Board Imager is a significant advancement,” said Alan Lewin, M.D., medical director of Baptist Hospital Radiation Oncology. “IGRT helps us pinpoint the tumor and reduce the amount of healthy tissue exposed to radiation. It has the potential for better tumor control and fewer side effects.”
The Baptist-South Miami Regional Cancer Program is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest, faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization in the region. Cancer services are offered at Baptist, Baptist Children’s and South Miami Hospitals. Baptist Health also includes Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute, and Baptist Outpatient Services. Baptist Health Foundation, the organizations’ fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities affiliated with Baptist Health.