The Benefits of SmartBeam™ IMRT

Higher doses of radiation can be delivered directly to tumors and cancer cells, while surrounding organs and tissues are protected.
Lower doses to healthy normal tissues may mean fewer complications or side effects. For example, in the case of head and neck tumors, IMRT allows radiation to be delivered in a way that minimizes exposure of the spinal cord, optic nerve, salivary glands or other important structures. In the case of prostate cancer, exposure of the nearby bladder or rectum can be minimized.
In prostate cancer studies conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, local tumor control rates were significantly improved. Prostate cancer patients treated with SmartBeam IMRT showed a 92 percent three-year survival rate for early stage prostate patients, as compared with an 81.6 percent survival rate for cancer patients treated at lower doses with an earlier form of radiation therapy. In addition, the use of SmartBeam IMRT cut rectal bleeding complications from 17 percent to 3 percent of the cases.
Physicians can treat cancers that were previously untreatable with radiation therapy.
IMRT can be a non-invasive alternative to surgery in some cases.
IMRT targets the tumor and not the entire body.

Varian Oncology Headquarters
Tel: 1.650.424.5700
Contact Us

09/02/2010 - 09/04/2010
ANZHNS - Australia/New Zealand Head & Neck Society
09/09/2010 - 09/12/2010
ISRRT - International Society of Radiographers & Radiological Technologists
09/11/2010
International Users Meeting
09/12/2010 - 09/16/2010
ESTRO 29