November 4, 2010 – A new magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for oncology use was introduced at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) meeting in San Diego, Calif. The Panorama High Field Open (HFO) Oncology Configuration, by Philips, combines the soft tissue contrast of MR with a spacious patient aperture.
Additionally, it offers healthcare professionals relevant clinical insight, supports image fusion and provides advanced imaging for radiation therapy planning and follow-up.
For reproducing the treatment position of radiation therapy, the system utilizes a flat tabletop and employs an external laser positioning system for alignment and marking. The main clinical applications are covered with dedicated protocols that help streamline clinical workflow integration, and include prostate, head and neck, brain, female pelvis and pediatric.
“Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the western world,” said L. Steven Carpenter, M.D., radiation oncologist at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas. “Our frontline medical personnel must be able to plan, perform and track the effectiveness of radiation therapy as accurately as possible. The Philips Panorama HFO Oncology Configuration allows us to make optimal use of the benefits of MR for therapy planning by providing repeatable positioning from staging to planning to treatment, and by offering comfort to our patients. In addition, our radiologists are very pleased with the image quality of this advanced MR system.”
For more information: www.philips.com