What is Rapidarc - Trilogy Device?
Rapidarc is a cancer treatment device produced with advanced technology. This device has the ability to perform volumetric and intensity-adjusted rotational irradiation. Thanks to the density adjustment feature, it is possible to plan the treatment at the desired intensity and at the desired dose, taking into account the tumor shape, extent and relations with neighboring organs. The control of the accuracy of the treatment is made with the snapshots taken before each treatment.
With this image-guided treatment, while the tumor is irradiated with high accuracy, healthy tissues can be protected with the same precision.
Rapidarc significantly shortens the treatment time that the patient stays in irradiation compared to other similar radiotherapy devices. Thanks to this feature, it provides a comfortable and safe treatment by minimizing the errors caused by patient and organ movements. Rapidarc is a device with advanced technological features that is available in few oncology centers in our country. Our hospital is one of the few centers that has this device.
Which Patients Is Rapidarc Used To Treat?
Rapidarc device can be used in all types of cancer. It is especially preferred in the treatment of tumors that require high radiotherapy doses and tumors that are located close to the tissues that need protection.
Treatment Application Steps with Rabidarc
Rapidarc is a linear accelerator (LINAC) device. It allows to treat the diseased area by using X-rays produced by linear accelerators. While the therapeutic rays are applied to the patients from a certain distance, it is requested that the patients remain in the same position and motionless in each treatment in order for the treatment to be performed correctly. Different positioning and fixation tools are used according to the differences in the treated area.
Computed Tomography image of the patient is taken after fixation by using heat-sensitive masks, vacuum beds, special positioning apparatus that dissolves in water and takes the shape of the area to which it is applied. The purpose of all these procedures is to prevent the patient from moving. After the most appropriate patient-specific plan created by the doctor and medical physicists is accepted, the treatment phase is started.
After checking the image taken for the accuracy of the treatment area, the treatment is started. Rapidarc device rotates around the patient and performs the irradiation process. The duration of the procedure is 5-10 minutes on average, except for some special patients. This period includes checking the treatment area with imaging and then irradiation of the patient in each session.
No interventional procedure is performed on the patient during the treatment. There is no pain associated with the treatment during the application. There are no restrictions in patients after treatment. The patient can continue with his daily activities.
