Fortis Hospital Gurugram to Introduce Elekta Unity MR Linac System for Precision Cancer Care

This integration of high-field MR technology allows for real-time visualization of tumors during radiation delivery, facilitating instant treatment adjustments.

Fortis Hospital, Gurugram, is set to introduce Elekta Unity MR Linac, a groundbreaking innovation for cancer care poised to redefine precision in radiation therapy.

This state-of-the-art system seamlessly integrates a 1.5T MR, promising accuracy in visualizing tumors and organs at risk, thereby enhancing personalized cancer treatment through MRI-guided radiation therapy (MRgRT).

The installation of the system had been underway at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute Gurugram and was due for completion in early 2024.

While the hospital hasn’t announced the date on which the machine will be open for patients, this is only the second in India.

The first Elekta Unity MR Linac machine was launched in Yashoda Hospital HITEC City in Hyderabad last year.

The Unity MR Linac, developed by Swedish company Elekta, combines the power of MRI with precise radiation delivery, marking a significant advancement in cancer treatment.

MR Linac System's Offerings:

At the core of the MR Linac system lies a powerful 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit, that ensures superior image quality that enables clinicians to visualize tumors and surrounding tissues with extraordinary clarity.

This integration of high-field MR technology allows for real-time visualization of tumors during radiation delivery, facilitating instant treatment adjustments based on the most up-to-date information.

In a video released on its LinkedIn account, Dr Alok Anand, senior director, Radiation Oncology, explains the benefits of the system.

“It’s a hybrid technology of 1.5 Tesla MRI and high energy linear accelerator. These two technologies are combined to treat miniscule of tumors up to a few millimeters with high precision of radiation delivered in a linear accelerator. The end result would be the high rate of local control of the cancer along with much reduced side effects,” he said.

The MRgRT utilizes MRI to visualize changes in tumor size, shape, and location during treatment, enhances tumor targeting, and minimizes side effects.

The superior image resolution provides detailed insights into the tumor and surrounding anatomy, crucial for precise treatment delivery, particularly for tumors near sensitive organs or structures.

The real-time imaging capabilities enable clinicians to monitor and adapt the treatment plan as needed, ensuring accuracy throughout the radiation therapy session.

This approach is particularly beneficial for tumors not clearly visible on conventional CT scans or those prone to frequent location changes.

Sessions with MRgRT typically last 20-45 minutes on average, with the flexibility to reduce session frequency by increasing radiation dosage per session, aiming to limit clinic time.

Key Features of MR Linac

The conventional LINAC systems rely on separate imaging and radiation delivery processes, Elekta Unity integrates both functions into one system.

Patients are imaged using external imaging modalities such as CT or MRI, and then the treatment plan is generated based on those images.

The Cone beam CT (CBCT) integrated linear accelerator delivers radiation to the patient based on the pre-planned treatment.

However, this approach has limitations in detailed visualization of the tumor and surrounding healthy tissues based on response during radiotherapy and probably leads to inadvertently irradiating the surrounding healthy tissue.

The Elekta Unity MR Linac system combines both to provide precision care.