MADISON, Wis. - February 16, 2011 - TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of advanced radiation therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, today announced that it has expanded its worldwide presence into Central America, with the introduction of TomoTherapySM treatments at the International Cancer Center of El Salvador in San Salvador. With the opening of this new center, TomoTherapy® systems are now available in 24 countries around the world.

The International Cancer Center installed a TomoTherapy Hi·Art® treatment system, which enables clinicians there to deliver highly precise image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) to disease sites. The TomoTherapy Hi·Art treatment system integrates CT imaging and radiation delivery technology. Using the system, clinicians can efficiently acquire a low-dose helical CT image immediately before each daily treatment in order to ensure precise patient positioning. The same machine is then used to deliver radiation in a continuous, 360-degree pattern around the patient's body, enabling effective targeting of the tumor while minimizing damage to healthy surrounding tissue and critical structures.

"Historically, El Salvador has lagged behind other Latin and Central American countries in its ability to treat cancer with radiation therapy. As a result, we wanted to bring the best resources available to treat cancer to our new center," said Dr. Rodrigo Brito, CEO of the International Cancer Center. "We believe the TomoTherapy Hi·Art system offers the most integrated, advanced radiation therapy technology in the world and allows us to provide a unique and effective treatment to patients in these regions. Now, with our TomoTherapy system, we are able to position our center ahead of those in countries like Brazil, Chile and Colombia."
The International Cancer Center expects to treat a wide variety of cancers with its TomoTherapy system. "TomoTherapy technology offers many technical advantages over conventional radiation therapy devices, but of particular importance to us is its clinical versatility," said Dr. Eduardo Lovo, a neurosurgeon and medical director at the International Cancer Center. "Because the system is so flexible, it will provide us efficiencies in delivering high quality treatments in standard and hypofractionated regimens for a wide range of tumors - such as those in the brain, spine, liver, prostate and lung."

"The advantages offered by the TomoTherapy technology are being recognized worldwide, and we are excited to bring the platform's unique capabilities to patients in Central America for the first time through the International Cancer Center, in partnership with our distributor Medytec," said Fred Robertson, TomoTherapy's president and CEO. "The introduction of TomoTherapy treatments provides patients in El Salvador with a level of care that was not previously possible in any Central or South American nation."

More HCB News