VEENENDAAL, The Netherlands – Elekta (EKTA-B.ST) announces that an estimated two million brachytherapy treatments have been delivered by healthcare providers using Flexitron high dose rate (HDR) afterloader. One site that has contributed to this treatment milestone is Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Amsterdam UMC) in the Netherlands, which acquired the 1,000th Flexitron recently manufactured at Elekta’s facility in Veenendaal.
Brachytherapy is a specialized and precise type of radiotherapy that can be used to treat many types of cancer. Also called interventional radiotherapy, it allows delivery of high doses of radiation directly on the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
Amsterdam UMC has been delivering brachytherapy treatments for more than 40 years, using both earlier generation brachy afterloaders and Flexitron. The hospital treats around 160 patients annually including gynecological cases – patients with cervical and uterine malignancies – as well as prostate and even some rare indications such as bladder cancer.
Bradley Pieters, Radiation Oncologist, and Danique Barten, Medical Physicist, in the Radiotherapy department at Amsterdam UMC, said: “We have been delighted with our Flexitron afterloader and are excited to be part of this milestone as we receive the second system. This is one of the first steps towards our new ‘Brachy suite’.”
“Elekta has been at the forefront of advancing brachytherapy, providing clinicians with cutting-edge technology to improve patient outcomes,” said John Lapré, Elekta’s President Brachy and Neuro Solutions. “The Flexitron afterloader has been a game-changer in the world of brachytherapy, providing clinicians with unparalleled flexibility and precision. We are proud to have played a role in the treatment of so many patients worldwide and look forward to continuing to advance the field of radiation medicine with our innovative solutions."
Flexitron is used in almost two-thirds of all brachytherapy centers worldwide in over 100 countries. The latest version sets itself apart from conventional brachytherapy devices through its design, ensuring efficient, safe and effective treatments with fewer manual steps.
About Elekta
As a leader in precision radiation therapy, Elekta is committed to ensuring every patient has access to the best cancer care possible. We openly collaborate with customers to advance sustainable, outcome-driven and cost-efficient solutions to meet evolving patient needs, improve lives and bring hope to everyone dealing with cancer. To us, it's personal, and our global team of 4,700 employees combine passion, science, and imagination to profoundly change cancer care. We don’t just build technology, we build hope. Elekta is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with offices in more than 40 countries and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.
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