Brachytherapy at Ichilov Will Become Even More Effective

The leading Israeli medical complex Ichilov (Sourasky) has become the first in the country and one of the few in the world to start using innovative equipment for high-dose brachytherapy, which has only recently appeared on the market. The ultra-modern HDR-Bravos device, now available in the hospital's radiology department, is the brainchild of the California company Varian Medical Systems, one of the leaders in the production of medical equipment and software for the treatment of oncological diseases. According to specialists, its new creation will make radiation therapy for many types of cancer simpler, more effective, and safer for both the patient and the physician.

Brachytherapy, also known as contact or internal radiation therapy, is among the main anti-cancer methods, and in the case of certain types of tumours, particularly neoplasms of the reproductive system, it is the only and most effective way to overcome the disease. It involves the insertion of one or more sources of radioactive radiation directly into the tissues of the tumour or nearby using special needles, catheters, or applicators.

Thanks to the targeted effect of radiation, the irradiation of the required area occurs without damaging the adjacent healthy tissues. This, in turn, allows radiologists to significantly increase the dose of ionizing radiation, greatly enhancing the effectiveness of radiation therapy without harming the patient's health.

At the Tel Aviv medical center Ichilov, the high-dose brachytherapy method has been successfully applied for the last twenty years. However, recently, thanks to the new equipment, hospital specialists have the opportunity to improve this method, making it more effective and safer for oncology patients.

Differences of the Device from Its Predecessors

The main distinguishing feature of the new version of the device from its predecessors is the remote delivery system for the source of ionizing radiation. Thanks to this, the radiologist can place the radiation source in a special applicator, and the radiotherapy unit will then automatically insert it into the tumour tissue at the required depth, ensuring optimal impact on the cancer cells. Upon completion of the treatment, the system will automatically extract the applicator with the source, avoiding additional radiation exposure for both the patient and the treating physician.

Among other innovations of the HDR-Bravos device is a touch control system with intuitive LED indicators. Thanks to the touchscreen, the radiologist, without leaving the procedure room, has access to all information about the patient's condition and the progress of the treatment process. The LED signals allow him to monitor the correctness of the remote placement of the applicator with the radioactive substance in the tumour tissues. If the indicator lights up green, everything is going according to plan; if yellow or red, there is a problem at a certain stage of insertion, and the physician needs to adjust the position of the applicator.

The maximally precise implantation of the ionizing radiation source significantly increases the overall effectiveness and safety of contact radiation therapy for cancer. The extremely high accuracy of irradiation is also ensured by the integrated treatment planning system. Its use greatly simplifies the process of developing complex irradiation schemes, taking into account the unique characteristics of the tumour and the individual features of the patient's body.

Subsequently, the plan along with instructions for the specialist conducting the procedure is displayed on the touchscreen, and the optical quality control and monitoring system ensures that the treatment process fully complies with the plan.

Specialists in the radiology department of Ichilov hospital note that currently, the new radiotherapy unit is planned to be used only for the treatment of gynecological tumours, primarily cervical and uterine body cancer, vaginal cancer, and ovarian cancer.

The irradiation is performed under spinal anesthesia, allowing the patient to feel neither pain nor discomfort. The applicator with sources of radioactive substance is delivered to the required area of the pelvis through the vagina, where it is left for just a few minutes. This is enough to deliver the necessary dose of radiation to the irradiation zone and achieve the maximum treatment effect.

The capabilities of the HDR-Bravos device, however, are not limited to the therapy of tumours of the female reproductive system. In the near future, as assured by Ichilov, it will also be used for the treatment of other forms of cancer, particularly prostate cancer.