University Clinic Heidelberg Celebrates 100 Years of Radiation Therapy with TomoTherapy Symposium
In September, the University Clinic Heidelberg celebrated 100 years of radiation oncology, commemorating the establishment of the Czerny-Klinik (originally the Institute for Experimental Cancer Research) in 1906 by Vincent Czerny, a pioneer in radiotherapy.
As part of the celebration, the Czerny-Klinik held a special Symposium on TomoTherapy® radiation treatments. The symposium took place on September 26, 2006, and focused on the first technical and clinical experiences with a TomoTherapy® Hi·Art System® in the German-speaking countries. The Heidelberg clinic presented their first 15 patients treated on the state-of-the-art System, including a number of cases which could not have been treated sufficiently with conventional IMRT.
In addition, Rock Mackie, co-founder of TomoTherapy Incorporated, spoke about the history and the future of TomoTherapy technology. Other speakers addressed topics ranging from image guidance and adaptive radiotherapy to site planning and installation.
“The symposium was a great success,” notes Prof. Dr. Jürgen Debus, Medical Director of the Clinic’s Department of Radiooncology and Radiation Therapy. About 200 radiation physicists and physicians from all over Germany, Austria and Switzerland were present for the event. During breaks, conference attendees were invited to tour the Heidelberg Clinic’s TomoTherapy Hi·Art System. The clinic is the first facility in Germany to offer TomoTherapy radiation treatments for cancer. Four other major university hospitals in Germany—Charite Berlin, the University Clinic Essen, the Clinic of the Technical University Munich Rechts der Isar, and the University Clinic Hamburg—are scheduled for installation within the next few months.
17 Oct 2006
