Industry Spotlight HEALTH CARE
Top-notch Cancer Treatment,
a Powerful Asset
North Texas first in the nation with new system
C
ancer
patients in
the North
Texas
region have access to the latest
advances in radiation oncology
at the University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center.
Located in Dallas along the
I-35E corridor, UT
Southwestern installed a new
system to deliver extremely
precise and individualized
radiation treatment. The VERO
system, the first and only
currently operating in the
Western Hemisphere, allows
UT Southwestern physicians to
locate and track tumors and
more precisely target radiation
compared to other technologies.
The VERO system helps
avoid damage to healthy tissues
30 North Texas Magazine
and reduces the number of
treatment sessions needed –
resulting in better patient
outcomes and experiences.
“Radiation oncology at UT
Southwestern is unique in all of
North America in terms of the
breadth of our technology,
research and patient care
capabilities,” said Dr. Hak Choy,
chairman of radiation oncology
at the medical center. “We are
very fortunate to be able to offer
many different technologies that
enable us to provide the optimal
approach tailored to individual
patient needs.”
Cancer patients at UT
Southwestern needing
therapeutic radiation have
access to 10 state-of-the-art
machines: seven linear
accelerators, two specialized
stereotactic machines
(CyberKnife and Gamma Knife)
The VERO system, the first and only currently operating in the
entire Western Hemisphere, allows UT Southwestern physicians
to locate and track tumors and more precisely target radiation.
and the VERO – an array of
options that distinguishes
UT Southwestern from other
medical centers.
The newest system offers
exceptional precision targeting,
enabling treatment for patients
for whom the risk of damage
to nearby non-cancerous
tissue precludes further use of
standard radiotherapy. It allows
doctors to monitor and adapt to
each patient’s anatomy and to
precisely coordinate delivery
of radiation with natural
movements such as breathing,
or in response to changes that
can occur between treatments,
such as tumor shrinkage or
weight loss.
Because a stereotactic
approach allows oncologists
to deliver radiation in
such a concentrated and
precise manner, fewer
treatment sessions are needed,
Dr. Choy said.
Dr. Bruce Meyer, executive
vice president for health system
affairs at UT Southwestern,
said, “As advances are made,
we are committed to bringing
the most effective therapeutic
technologies to patients whose
lives depend on receiving the
best care from the best doctors
armed with the best technology.
We owe it to our patients to offer
them leading-edge treatment
options.” z
www.ntc-dfw.org