November 12 1998  


 

CHICAGO -- (November 30, 1998) ñ Today at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Conference, Nucletron unveiled PLATO-IMRT, its works-in-progress in Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). PLATO-IMRT utilizes inverse planning, a new radiation treatment methodology that will change the fundamental way treatment plans are designed as it evolves into a new standard of care.


Inverse planning is expected to bring many advantages to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) including the ability to plan complex, highly targeted treatment plans in a dramatically shorter time. With PLATO-IMRT, a radiation oncologist will be able to define the tumor volumes, create the target by margining, and define beam set-up in PLATO VSS (Virtual Simulation System) and then optimize the plan using PLATO-IMRT all within a single short session. The system has an intuitive user interface that makes it very easy-to-use, and the PLATO-IMRT software is based on a clinically-tested algorithm that can, for example optimize a five-field rectum plan in one minute or less.


With inverse planning, radiation treatment plans are determined by specifying the clinical criteria for developing dosimetry at the beginning of the process. With PLATO-IMRT, a radiation oncologist will be able to enter the minimum/maximum dose to the tumor and target volumes and the maximum dose to the surrounding organ(s). The user can input and modify dose volume constraints directly on the Dose Volume Histogram display ñ a unique and flexible method for plan optimization. With this input, PLATO-IMRT creates a plan that optimizes beam shape and intensity distribution to meet specific treatment parameters. PLATO-IMRT will provide volumetric dosimetry and allow radiation oncologists to deliver more accurate, conformal treatments that utilize a higher dose of radiation to the tumor volume.


PLATO-IMRT will also take advantage of the full capabilities of todayís leading linear accelerators by enabling the radiation oncologist to produce a treatment plan that has an intensity plan for each beam, which can be created using a compensator, or by ìstep and shootî or by dynamic Multi-Leaf Collimator delivery.


ìIMRT is the next generation of treatment planning and Nucletron is working to provide its customer with a fully-integrated IMRT solution that works seamlessly with Nucletronís entire treatment planning product lineî, said Edwin Vandermeulen, Managing Director of Nucletron.


Nucletron and Deutsches Krebs- und Forschungszentrum have been co-operating in the field of radiation therapy planning for several years and we are excited about the further integration in PLATO of the results from many years of scientific development and clinical use in Heidelberg in IMRT and Inverse Planningî, said Prof. Wolfgang Schlegel and Thomas Bortfeld from the DKFZ Heidelberg Germany.


"IMRT solutions created by Inverse Planning are a revolutionary progress in radiation therapy. We want to bring these sophisticated techniques to the patient as soon as possible. To us, Nucletron is the ideal partner. The Inverse Planning module will be embedded in PLATO, one of the most advanced treatment planning systems available today", said MRC Product Manager Dr. C. Schulze, and Dr. J. Stein, Managing Director of MRC.


Nucletron, a worldwide leader in radiotherapy systems, specializes in some of the most innovative products used for cancer treatment. The company has 11 offices worldwide, with Nucletron headquarters in The Netherlands. The American office, Nucletron Corp. is located in Columbia, MD, to serve the United States, Mexico and Canada.