Radiotherapy Equipment

Radiotherapy Equipment in the Department

The Radiotherapy Department has a range of equipment, consisting of; five linear accelerators (linacs), two CT Scanners, a superficial treatment unit and a high dose rate afterloader for brachytherapy. We also use clinical software such as a treatment planning system (Eclipse) and an independent machine and patient QA application (SunCHECK).

The Radiotherapy Department has a range of equipment, consisting of; five linear accelerators (linacs), two CT Scanners, a superficial treatment unit and a high dose rate afterloader for brachytherapy. We also use clinical software such as a treatment planning system (Eclipse) and an independent machine and patient QA application (SunCHECK).

Commissioning Equipment

All new equipment purchased is tested and commissioned by Radiotherapy Physics staff prior to its use on patients. Due to the potentially dangerous nature of the radiation used, this commissioning process must be thorough and methodical, any work completed is second checked by a senior member of staff who is registered as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE).

Clinical Scientists are responsible for measuring all the data required at commissioning. This is usually carried out in a large water tank and involves measuring the performance of the machine in all possible modes of use. This data must be processed and analysed before being transferred to the treatment planning system for use in dose calculations for treatment planning. The Clinical Scientists are responsible for the accuracy and applicability of all data used in the Radiotherapy Department.

Specialist Techniques in the Department

RapidArc is a specialist treatment where an IMRT (intensity modulated radiotherapy) like plan is delivered while the linear accelerator gantry rotates. The treatments are much faster than routine IMRT and can allow more conformal dose distributions than routine IMRT for various treatment sites.  

SABR (Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy) is a treatment in which we deliver a high dose of radiation precisely to the treatment volume whilst sparing the healthy tissue around it. Standard radiotherapy is delivered over several weeks, delivering the total dose in small daily treatments called fractions. When treating using SABR the dose is delivered using a small number of fractions, but with a much higher radiation dose per fraction. Development of SABR techniques for different treatment sites is ongoing through various clinical trials. We have currently commissioned SABR for a number of specific lung, prostate and spinal cord cancers. The treatment type you receive will be recommended by your oncologist.