MIMA Cancer Center Becomes First in World to Treat Soft Tissue Carcinoma With Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Using RapidArc™ Radiotherapy Technology

MELBOURNE, Fla., July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Doctors at Melbourne Internal Medical Associates (MIMA) Cancer Center have become the first in Florida to treat cancer using RapidArc™ radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR). They are also the first in the world to use this technology to deliver stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the treatment of soft tissue carcinoma.

A 72-year-old man with Merkel cell carcinoma was treated for a soft tissue tumor in his thigh, which had developed close to where a similar tumor had been treated with conventional radiotherapy six months earlier.

"In this case, it was important that we avoid exposing the previously-treated area to any additional radiation," said Todd Scarbrough, M.D., radiation oncologist and director of the MIMA Cancer Center. "Using RapidArc, we completed each of his treatment sessions in just five minutes, including imaging and treatment. In the past, using conventional IMRT, this type of treatment would have required 30 minutes per session to complete."

source:Varian