Sahyadri Hospitals Introduces Asia’s First Advanced Radiotherapy Treatment

Pune: Sahyadri Hospitals is excited to unveil Asia's first TomoTherapy Radixact X9 system, featuring the advanced VitalHold technology. This groundbreaking innovation marks a significant leap in radiation therapy, providing unmatched precision and enhanced patient outcomes, especially for cancers requiring meticulous motion management.

“The system offers real-time adaptation based on imaging, ensuring the radiation dose is accurately delivered to the target while sparing healthy tissues. This is particularly beneficial for tumors that move with respiration, such as those in the lung and abdominal regions,” said Dr. Sanjay Hunugundmath, Lead Radiation Oncologist at Sahyadri Hospitals. “This system sets a new standard for precision and patient care for cancer patients in Pune. This technology uses millions of laser points on the patient's body to ensure precise positioning and continuous monitoring, improving treatment accuracy and efficiency”, he added.

The Radixact X9 system, already known for its versatility and precision, is now further empowered by VitalHold, a technology that offers significant benefits for managing motion through Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) techniques. This feature is crucial for treating cancers in the thoracic region, such as lung and breast cancers, where precise targeting is essential. DIBH technique in this system stabilizes the position of tumours and surrounding tissues, ensuring that radiation is accurately delivered to the target while minimizing exposure to other healthy tissues.

This system represents the first installation in Asia and one of the standout features of VitalHold is the Auto Beam Hold, which automatically pauses radiation delivery if the patient moves out of the tolerance limit during treatment. This ensures enhanced safety and precision. This technology incorporates clarity Imaging Technology, providing high-definition images with improved soft tissue contrast. This allows for more precise identification and localization of tumours, enhancing treatment accuracy. Unlike traditional imaging methods, the system uses helical kVCT imaging, producing continuous high-resolution images as the gantry rotates around the patient. This ensures rapid image acquisition, reducing the potential for patient movement and image artifacts.

"Currently, only three centers worldwide, including Sahyadri Hospitals, offer the Radixact X9 system with VitalHold. This exclusive technology positions Sahyadri Hospitals at the forefront of cancer treatment, providing patients with access to cutting-edge therapies that improve outcomes and quality of life," said Dr. Shona Nag, Director, Oncology Department, Sahyadri Hospitals. "The Radixact X9 without VitalHold is covered under standard insurance packages, classified as image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT). Efforts are underway to secure specific coverage for VitalHold, ensuring that advanced cancer care is accessible and affordable."

Patients undergoing treatment with this technology experience enhanced comfort and effectiveness, as it improves setup accuracy and reduces the need for physical markers. The breath-hold technique is user-friendly, with visual cues in the treatment room to guide patients. The entire room turns green when the patient holds their breath correctly, simplifying the process and reducing stress. The technology is suitable for treating a wide range of cancers, including thoracic cancers (lung and breast), abdominal cancers (liver, oesophageal), prostate cancer and also pediatric tumours, and total body irradiation (TBI).

Mr. Abrarali Dalal, Director and CEO of Sahyadri Hospitals, states, “We are excited to make this ground-breaking technology available in Pune. Sahyadri has always been at the forefront of adopting cutting-edge technology to ensure the best clinical outcomes for our patients. Our team at Sahyadri Hospitals has embraced this advanced technology with extensive training. We are committed to providing the highest standards of care by leveraging the full capabilities of the Radixact X9 system with VitalHold, ensuring optimal outcomes for our patients. The addition of this unique technology will significantly boost our center of excellence in oncology care. We are working diligently to include this advanced treatment in insurance packages, making it accessible and affordable for our patients."