UF Health physicians will be able to see and track daily anatomical changes in tiny tumors — even smaller than a staple. The unparalleled images will help physicians make diagnostic-level treatment decisions, such as differentiating a solid tumor from soft tissues or even dying cancer from resistant tumors.

It will also help with treatment decisions by providing extreme resolution not only for detailed evaluation at the edges or margins of a tumor, but also for changes in the size, shape and position of the target tumors and the surrounding normal tissues.


“The ability to track in real time both the tumor and its biologic activity or response to treatment while ensuring healthy tissues and sensitive organs at risk are protected is unprecedented,” Zlotecki said. “This allows us to see into delicate soft tissues, particularly deep locations where lymph nodes can be involved, and difficult tissue locations where other imaging technologies cannot provide optimal resolution and detail. The visualization difference is night and day.”

The Elekta Unity MR-Linac also shortens treatment time, reducing it by several weeks or even to as little as five days of radiation therapy for some diseases such as prostate and rectal primary cancers.

“We can provide treatment more safely and far more effectively with less risk and less interference to a patient’s quality of life,” Zlotecki said. “This has an incredible quality of life and economic impact, not just for the patients themselves, but also for our health care system as a whole.”

The Elekta Unity MR-Linac adds to UF Health’s impressive portfolio of advanced technology for radiation oncology, which includes the Philips Ambition 1.5 Tesla MR scanner and Big Bore CT Simulator.

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