The icotec Carbon/PEEK spinal system allows for the first time radiotherapists, spinal surgeons and patients to have a revolutionary treatment alternative to traditional, metal pedicle screws because of its artifact-minimized planning and optimized application of radiation therapy to treat spinal tumors.
icotec AG, an innovative technology company focused on creating and manufacturing new products from Carbon/PEEK composites, revolutionizes spinal care for cancer patients.
For spinal tumor treatment, radiation therapy plays an important role in pain management, the local treatment of spinal tumors and the prevention of pathologic fractures. Before administering radiation therapy, the radiologist relies on accurate CT or MRI images to plan the radiation dose. However, when metal spinal implants are present, these implants can cause artifact on the planning images. This artifact makes it more difficult to delineate anatomic structures during radiation therapy planning and correctly calculate the proper dose distributions.
During radiation therapy, metal spinal implants may also shield remaining tumor cells from the curing radiation. In addition, metal implants induce scattering of the radiation beams into the surrounding soft tissue potentially causing side effects. In some cases, patients may not be candidates for radiation therapy because of the presence of metal implants.[1]
About 30% of all cancer patients will develop bone metastases and the spine is affected in approximately 70% of these patients.
1. Friedrich, R. E., Todrovic, M., & Krüll, A. (2010). Simulation of Scattering Effects of Irradiation on Surroundings Using the Example of Titanium Dental Implants Anticancer Research, 30, 1727-1730.
icotec
http://www.icotec.ch
