Elekta Radiosurgery Solutions are Creating New Possibilities for the Most Challenging Cases of the Head And Body

Latest radiosurgery solutions from Elekta discussed at the 2009 AANS Meeting

ATLANTA, April 30 /PRNewswire/ — At the 2009 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting, May 4-6 at the San Diego Convention Center, Elekta customers and personnel will discuss how Elekta’s latest line of stereotactic treatment solutions is addressing some of the most challenging cases facing neurosurgeons and oncologists today.

Local Control of Brain Mets

Recent studies estimate that 25 percent of all cancer patients – particularly patients with melanoma, lung cancer, or advanced breast cancer – will develop brain metastases and require whole brain therapy. While whole brain radiotherapy is a treatment option, it also subjects healthy brain tissue to radiation dosages that may have negative side affects or limit the amount of therapeutic dose that can be applied in the event of a re-occurrence. In addition, whole brain radiation requires an interruption in the chemotherapy treatments that are so important to maintaining tumor control.

Dr. Christopher M. Duma, Neurological Surgeon at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California will discuss the use of Leksell Gamma Knife(R) Perfexion(TM) to treat multiple brain metastases in a single session. Gamma Knife(R) surgery always has been especially good at treating very small targets with little or no damage to healthy tissue; but Perfexion is able to treat several targets faster and more efficiently making it a viable option of patients with brain metastases. The result is a fast and effective treatment for brain metastases that is easier on the patient, reduces the damage to healthy tissue that may limit future treatment options, and allows for concomitant chemotherapy for optimum primary tumor control.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery of the Spine

While Gamma Knife(R) surgery was initially invented to treat inoperable cancers and disorders in the brain, now the kind of stereotactic treatment precision established by Elekta can be applied to extra-cranial tumors. Today, the latest advancements in image guidance and dynamic arc delivery pioneered by Elekta combined with Leksell-quality fixation options support Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT) anywhere in the body to deliver optimal dose to the tumor, while protecting vital organs like the spinal cord.

Dr. Peter C. Gerszten, Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and co-editor of Spine Radiosurgery, will discuss the use of Elekta Axesse(TM) to perform stereotactic radiosurgery for spine and paraspinal lesions. According to Dr. Gerszten, “Axesse is fully optimized for SRS and SRT and therefore well suited for spine radiosurgery, providing patients a fast, safe, and effective treatment alternative or as an adjunct to open surgical intervention.”

More than sixty years ago, Professor Lars Leksell developed a three-coordinate head frame and revolutionized the field of stereotaxy. Twenty years later he conceived of replacing the surgical precision of the neurosurgeon with precisely targeted radiation, and invented the field of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Today, Leksell Gamma Knife(R) Perfexion(TM) is still the benchmark upon which all other SRS methods are measured; Perfexion equipped with Extend Program*(TM) is capable of treating cancers of the head and neck and lesions previously unsuitable for Gamma Knife surgery; And Elekta Axesse(TM) supports SRS and SRT anywhere in the body making it a versatile cross-over solution for neurosurgery and oncology.

According to President and CEO of Elekta North America, Joseph K. Jachinowski, “Since its very foundation, Elekta has sought to develop technology that allowed practitioners to achieve specific clinical objectives. Today Elekta Neuroscience is still developing technology to address the most challenging cases in neurosurgery and oncology, creating new treatment possibilities that are redefining what we call, human care.”

*Extend requires 510(k) review and is not yet commercially available in the U.S.

About Elekta

Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated state of the art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.

Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible today.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group.

Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please visit www.elekta.com.

SOURCE Elekta