The Cáceres linear accelerator performed more than 450 radiotherapy treatments in its first year

The linear accelerator of Hospital Universitario de Cáceres has carried out more than 450 radiotherapy treatments in the year it has been operating. The professionals of the Radiotherapy Oncology Service recognize the qualitative leap in oncological therapies with respect to those that were previously applied, since 2002, when the health area treated these patients in a concerted center. The patients treated have benefited from this state-of-the-art equipment, which uses image-guided radiotherapy techniques (IGRT), which allows oncologists greater precision in the location of the tumor and, therefore, greater safety and guarantee of the best possible therapy.

Since the treatments were launched, very quickly once the equipment donated by the Amancio Ortega Foundation was installed, volumetric radiotherapy techniques (VMAT) have been used in 75% of the treatments to reduce possible adverse effects . Thus, the University Hospital of Cáceres (HUC), is within the international quality standards used in this type of technique.

However, this qualitative leap of the HUC does not exhaust the portfolio of services planned for the center, work will continue on the implementation of so-called special techniques, which require the use of other tools already available. In the first quarter of the year they have already been able to be implemented in the less complex cases.

In this sense, it is worth highlighting the use of 4D image acquisition techniques in the CT-simulator that allows radiation oncologists to define the volumes to be treated by integrating the respiratory movement; the table with 6 degrees of freedom (6D), which facilitates the correct positioning of patients; and the in vivo dosimetry system with which the radiophysics specialists of the Medical Physics Service can monitor the dosimetry applied in each treatment session of each patient.

Personnel of the Radiotherapy Oncology Service of the University of Cáceres. /

TODAY

Likewise, a novel system of image guided by the surface of the patient (SGRT) has begun to be used, which allows the involuntary movement of patients to be controlled in cases where it is required, and contributes to further reducing the safety margin of the areas to treat

How does it work?

For more complex cases, which require more time to use the machine for each patient, a few months of work are still needed to adjust the time with the high number of treatments that are performed daily.

The accelerator starts to work at 7:30 am with quality control and the necessary real simulation tests of the treatments that are going to start. Next, the scheduled treatments and emergencies that arrive during the day are carried out.

According to SES data, about 50 patients are treated daily at the accelerator. The patients are divided into two shifts, cared for by four radiation oncologists, two senior technicians in radiation oncology on each shift, as well as a technician assigned to the CT scan.

The Radiotherapy Oncology Service team is completed with nursing and auxiliary care technicians, as well as administrative staff. For its part, the Radiophysics Service is designed to cover the needs of oncological treatments with radiotherapy and those derived from the use of X-ray techniques and nuclear medicine in the Health Area in the coming years.

second machine

The Health Area and the Extremadura Health Service (SES) are working to incorporate a second treatment unit in the HUC to cover all the needs and possible contingencies related to this type of treatment. These are pathologies that generate a need for a prompt response and a great impact on the family environment of patients, and in which both professionals and patient associations are involved, working daily, attending and helping as necessary.