New Radiation Oncology Center Brings Patients Latest Technology, Best Results

Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point offers patients the latest weapons in the war on cancer with the new Burrell Cancer Radiation Oncology Center. A blessing and dedication program was conducted Feb. 1 for the unit, which is the new home of a state-of-the-art Trilogy Linear Accelerator (View video below). The device utilizes microwave technology to make treatment of the potentially deadly disease faster, more efficient and more effective, with fewer side effects for patients.

"Trilogy will offer patients more precise and shorter treatment times and assure better comfort and outcomes. Stereotactic body and cranial treatments will address problems faster," said Abdul Khan, MD, Franciscan St. Anthony Health medical director of radiation oncology, adding, "We can treat smaller areas with high doses of radiation without damaging surrounding tissue, and minimize side effects."

Stereotactic capability allows for minimally invasive treatment that destroys cancer cells while sparing surrounding tissue.

The Trilogy system’s clinical benefits include:

• Allowing for highest dosage rates in shorter sessions.
  
• Faster treatment times.
  
• Tight alignments that target the smallest of lesions.
  
• Rapid arc and on-board imaging, which allows for verification of accuracy of the treatment site.
  
• Ability to reposition patients quickly, accurately and remotely.
  
• Patient setups are fine-tuned with ultra-precise, on-board, cone beam CT scans.
  
• A Real-Time Vision System to verify patient positioning for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Stereotactic Radiation Surgery.
  
• Trilogy will be used in conjunction with a treatment CT simulator also located in the department.