May 16 2001
Veenendaal, The Netherlands ( May 16, 2001 ) - Nucletron announces the first clinical treatments in the USA using SPOT™ (Sonographic Planning of Oncology Treatment). On May 14th and 15th David C. Beyer, M.D. and Fred Puente, CMD performed implants under guidance and planning from Nucletron’s SPOT™ at Arizona Oncology Services, Scottsdale, Arizona. The first treatment used iodine seeds and the second used palladium seeds. The SPOT™ system, now commercially available, incorporates the necessary, real-time imaging needed for an intraoperative treatment planning system which can begin to overcome some limitations of current pre-planning techniques. "The power of SPOT™ , compared to the limitations of our current planning system, is that SPOT™ dosimetry reflects the real position of the needles at the moment of implantation. The SPOT™ system is an excellent first step toward achieving a comprehensive, real-time intraoperative system. It will allow me to improve the implant immediately in the OR," explained David Beyer MD. Real-time planning allows clinicians to use the planning system directly in the operating room as a tool to improve the implant dosimetry by adjusting the placement of needles prior to depositing permanent seeds. The SPOT™ system offers the ability to guide needle placement using 3D ultrasound and dose images, which can be updated for each needle placement without disturbing the position of the prostate gland. Dr. Beyer was enthusiastic about SPOT™ , particularly the ability to show the real position of the needles at the time of implantation. Recently, in Europe, Prof. Jan Battermann's team at University Medical Center, Utrecht (The Netherlands) introduced SPOT™ for intra-operative planning of prostate implants. Permanent prostate implants with iodine-125 seeds have been performed at Utrecht since the late 1980's and the technique continues to develop. "Replacing pre-planning by intra-operative planning contributes to overall timesaving. The total implantation procedure is improved, since planning and insertion of the needles are done simultaneously….To date, at the UMC, we have implanted over 50 patients with excellent results with guidance by the SPOT™ system," states Prof. Battermann. In addition to rapid acquisition of 3D images, SPOT™ innovations include 3D display of the image set, real time update of planned needle positions relative to actual positions, intra-operative dose calculation and dose volume histogram analysis. About Arizona Oncology Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, the organization includes fifteen physician specialists, who combine their individual skills to offer a premier approach for advancing knowledge and treatment of cancer. They seek to provide leadership in the education of physicians and health care professionals involved in cancer care. Techniques developed at Arizona Oncology have been presented at various lectures and workshops both nationally and internationally. About Nucletron Corporation Nucletron BV, Veenendaal, The Netherlands, is a worldwide leader in radiotherapy systems and thoracic imaging equipment for radiology and mass chest screening and specializes in some of the most innovative products used for cancer treatment. The company has 11 offices worldwide, including its corporate headquarter in the Netherlands. Nucletron has been a worldwide leader in remote afterloading brachytherapy for 25 years. Nucletron BV is a subsidiary of Delft Instruments, an international group of companies with some 1000 employees and annual sales of some NLG. 400 million.