Cancer patients in the United Arab Emirates have gained access to advanced radiotherapy and radiosurgery treatments with the clinical introduction of the country’s first TrueBeam™ medical linear accelerator from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR). A male patient with neck Hodgkin’s lymphoma received the first treatment on a TrueBeam at Mediclinic City Hospital’s new comprehensive cancer center in Dubai.
“This landmark treatment means that patients in the UAE now have access to one of the most precise and efficient technologies for treating cancer,” said Dr. Salim Chaib Rassou, the cancer center’s lead radiation oncologist. “We will be able to achieve high levels of precision, excellent image quality and fast throughput using the new TrueBeam technology.”
“This is an important clinical advancement in the treatment of many different types of cancer in the UAE and brings new hope to cancer sufferers across the country,” he added.
“Mediclinic City Hospital is very proud to be able to offer the first TrueBeam radiotherapy treatment in the UAE at our newly-opened comprehensive cancer center,” said hospital director Christian Schuhmacher. “The center has been set up in collaboration with experts at Mediclinic’s Swiss sister company Hirslanden, with TrueBeam data matched to that at Hirslanden. This means that it is possible for a patient to be treated both in Dubai, or if necessary at Hirslanden in Switzerland, without the need for dose recalculations.”
(Credit: Varian)
Varian’s TrueBeam system features a multitude of technical innovations that dynamically synchronize imaging, patient positioning, motion management, and treatment delivery. It was designed to treat tumors in a fast and precise manner, including cancers such as lung and breast that move during treatment as the patient breathes in and out.
“The Varian team in Dubai is very excited to see the first TrueBeam system installed in the UAE providing patients with advanced clinical treatments,” said Mutaz Mikashfi, Varian’s service area manager, Middle East and North Africa. “This new system in Dubaiexpands our collaboration with the Mediclinic group beyond our established long-term support for Mediclinic Hirslanden in Switzerland. We are looking forward to working closely with Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai to provide patients with the most modern radiotherapy and radiosurgery treatments.”