Leading Hong Kong Hospital First to Order TomoHD Systems Worldwide

TomoTherapy, maker of advanced radiation therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, has shipped its 350th treatment system. The milestone unit is the first of two TomoHD treatment systems that will be installed at the prestigious Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital (HKSH), which in 2005 became the first treatment centre in Asia to embrace TomoTherapy technology. With the addition of the TomoHD treatment systems, HKSH will expand its TomoTherapy treatment program to meet high patient demand and bring advanced image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy capabilities and treatment quality to a broader patient population.

"From our experience using TomoTherapy technology, we have become accustomed to the integrated workflow and exceptional treatment quality that the platform affords our clinical staff and cancer patients. The TomoHD system installations will allow us to maximise use of this important technology within our busy clinic," said Wyman Li, Manager (Administration) of HKSH.

By combining TomoHelical and TomoDirect delivery modes, the TomoHD treatment system is designed to help radiation oncology teams efficiently target a broad range of cases requiring radiation therapy. Using either delivery modality, clinicians can efficiently acquire a low-dose helical CT image immediately prior to each daily treatment to help ensure precise patient positioning based on internal anatomy. Then, with the same equipment used for imaging, the treatment team can deliver highly precise radiation to complex target volumes in a continuous, 360-degree pattern using the TomoHelical delivery mode. The TomoDirect delivery mode facilitates a non-rotational delivery option that enables clinicians to quickly plan and deliver advanced TomoTherapy radiation treatments with a series of linear beam paths rather than a single helical delivery path, thereby improving efficiency in the treatment of more common target volumes.

"HKSH has established strict standards for all procedures in order to maintain high quality in delivering individualised treatment for each patient. The availability of TomoTherapy technology has certainly helped support these efforts, but we saw a need to expand access to its benefits. The TomoHD system, with its TomoDirect delivery option, brings added versatility to a proven platform. We are confident these systems can provide state-of-the-art solutions for our high-demand environment for many years to come," said B.Y. Lee, Deputy Manager (Administration) of HKSH.

Patient treatments on the TomoHD treatment system are expected to commence in March 2011. HKSH plans to install the second TomoHD treatment system later in 2011.

"TomoTherapy is very pleased to announce the shipment of our 350th treatment system, a key milestone in both the adoption and evolution of our radiation therapy platform. We are equally pleased to announce the first dual order of TomoHD treatment systems worldwide. Hong Kong Sanatorium is another longstanding partner that has chosen to embrace the increased flexibility and throughput capabilities that the TomoHD system offers. We look forward to bringing this technology to Hong Kong," said Fred Robertson, TomoTherapy's president and CEO.