Hanyang University Hospital Begins Operation of Advanced Radiation Therapy Device 'TrueBeam'

Hanyang University Hospital announced on the 27th that it has completed the trial operation of the radiation cancer treatment device 'TrueBeam STx' and will begin full-scale operation starting this November.

Hanyang University Hospital announced on the 27th that it has completed the trial operation of the 'TrueBeam STx' and will begin full-scale operation starting this November.
[Photo by Hanyang University Hospital]

TrueBeam is equipped with treatment technologies including conventional radiation therapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), respiratory-gated radiation therapy (RGRT), and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The main advantages include improved patient convenience, enhanced treatment accuracy and outcomes, and increased treatment safety.

In terms of improving patient convenience, a special mask is used to immobilize the patient, minimizing pain and discomfort. By performing advanced treatment technology called surface-guided radiation therapy, accurate posture reproduction is possible without making any marks on the skin, allowing patients to carry on with daily life without discomfort.

Regarding treatment accuracy and outcome improvement, an automated posture correction program is integrated with a 6-dimensional patient treatment table to provide precise treatment. The posture correction program corrects positional errors in treatment posture within 1 mm, enabling accurate monitoring. Through a high-precision tumor tracking device, precise treatment tailored to each lesion is applied, enhancing treatment accuracy.

Treatment safety has also been improved. Respiratory-gated treatment technology, which monitors tumor movement according to the patient's breathing, is applied to minimize unnecessary radiation exposure. It can also be applied to elderly patients or those with reduced cardiopulmonary function, showing effectiveness in treating cancers highly affected by breathing such as stomach cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer.

In particular, the system is equipped with HyperArc technology, which enables non-invasive radiosurgery for multiple brain metastases including head and neck tumors, reducing the risk of side effects and enhancing treatment effectiveness. Additionally, the maximum output per minute (2400 MU/min), which is more than three times that of existing treatment equipment, shortens radiation exposure time.

Lee Hyung-jung, director of Hanyang University Hospital, stated, "With the introduction of TrueBeam, more precise radiation therapy has become possible, and treatment time has been shortened. We will strive to help improve cancer patients' treatment outcomes as well as their quality of life."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.