New research has found that esophageal cancer patients treated with proton therapy experienced significantly less toxic side effects than patients treated with older radiation therapies. The research was conducted by scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

EchoPixel’s True 3D Viewer shows a virtual representation of a patient’s body in open, immersive 3-D. Using stereo glasses, a stylus and a zSpace monitor, doctors can see and manipulate imagery obtained from computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) or ultrasound scans as if the objects were on a table in front of them. This helps expand diagnostic and surgical planning.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) has evaluated synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on pediatric cases to study and clinically validate its use on children. Results from the first part of the evaluation, which used SyMRI software, shows the synthetic images are diagnostically satisfactory in comparison with conventional sequences.

ECRI Institute’s health technology assessment service released an emerging technology brief concerning digital breast tomosynthesis (3-D mammography). The information is based on ECRI’s technology forecast report, "Digital Breast Tomosynthesis for Screening and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer."

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A) announced the release of an exclusive feature that reduces the power consumption of IBA proton therapy 230 MeV isochronous cyclotron (C230) by more than 30 percent. This unique feature helps reduce the overall cost of proton therapy, making it ever more accessible to patients worldwide.

Four World Health Organization (WHO) member states and nine non-governmental organizations (NGOs) co-organized a side event during the 68th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) entitled “Imaging for Saving Kids - the Inside Story about Patient Safety in Pediatric Radiology." The International Society of Radiology (ISR) was one of the initiators of the side event.

Phase III results of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0537 indicate that acupuncture-like, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ALTENS) may be equally effective as pilocarpine to treat radiation-induced xerostomia (dry mouth). Study results were published in the June 1, 2015 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (Red Journal), the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). RTOG 0537 is a phase II/III, multi-center, randomized trial comparing ALTENS with pilocarpine, which is the current standard of treatment for radiation-induced xerostomia.

With the introduction of Elekta's new Leksell Gamma Knife Icon, the benefits of precision cranial radiosurgery are now available for more patients with a wider variety of tumor types and sizes. This latest generation stereotactic radiosurgery system for the brain integrates advanced motion management, dose delivery and imaging technologies, significantly increasing the versatility of Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Elekta unveiled Leksell Gamma Knife Icon at the 3rd European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) Forum in Barcelona.