Press Release

A new Canon Aquilion Large Bore CT scanner has recently been installed in the Radiotherapy Department at the Royal Infirmary to replace a treatment simulator which is now obsolete technology.

Radiotherapy uses ionising radiation to control or kill cancer cells and is normally delivered by a linear accelerator (linac). Four out of ten patients who are cured of their cancer will have received radiotherapy as part or as the whole of their treatment, according to Cancer Research UK.

Radiotherapy techniques have become increasingly complex and the Leicester’s Hospitals radiotherapy department gives patients access to modern and innovative radiotherapy such as;

- Stereotactic ABlative Radiotherapy (SABR);

- Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH);

- Intensity Modulated RadioTherapy (IMRT);

- Image Guided RadioTherapy (IGRT).

In order to undergo Radiotherapy treatment, most patients will require a Radiotherapy Treatment Planning CT scan in order to gather the data necessary to produce their unique treatment plan.

Radiotherapy CT scanners are specifically adapted so that the equipment needed to ensure patients remain in the same position throughout their scan and at every treatment session they attend can fit through the opening.

Suzi Jordan, head of radiotherapy at Leicester’s Hospitals said, “This CT scanner allows us to give our patients access to the most up to date technology such as Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction (AIDR) which optimises the dose for a given image quality, and Single Energy Metal Artefact Reduction (SEMAR) which improves the image by reducing artefacts caused by metal in the patient such as hip replacements”. 

The radiotherapy department now has a total of two CT scanners. The addition of a second one has increased capacity and will ensure patients start their radiotherapy treatments in a timely manner.

ENDS

Media Invite

Media are invited to attend the opening. Please confirm attendance by 3:00pm on Thursday 6 December to Robert.knowles@uhl-tr.nhs.uk

Date: Friday 7 December, 2018

Time: 10:00-11:00am

Venue: Radiotherapy Dept. Osborne Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary