Novalis^® by BrainLAB:
A Major Advance in Treating Tumors

Movable leaves in the Multileaf Collimator tailor the radiation beams precisely to the tumor's shape. Image courtesy of BrainLAB AG

The Regional Cancer Center at Wellington is one of a select group of medical centers across the country offering Novalis^® Shaped Beam Surgery by BrainLAB, a cutting-edge noninvasive radiation therapy option for treating a wide range of benign and malignant tumors of the brain and spine and other areas of the body.

Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery is applied either in a single session with a high dose of radiation, called stereotactic radiosurgery, or in a series of treatments over a period of time, called fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. The radiation oncologist prescribes the most appropriate technique for the patient based on the size and location of the tumor.

"We are excited to bring the advanced technology of Novalis by BrainLAB to The Regional Cancer Center," says Kishore K. Dass, MD, Chief Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director of The Regional Cancer Center at Wellington. "This is a major advancement in the treatment of tumors or lesions in delicate areas because of its ability to target tumors so precisely, thus preserving healthy tissue. We are now able to take advantage of its accuracy to treat other areas such as the lung, prostate, breast, liver and head and neck."

Planning and Positioning
Once the radiation oncologist defines the tumor or lesion and nearby critical structures, sophisticated software calculates the ideal radiation beam arrangement and defines the treatment plan, which includes tailoring the shape and intensity of the radiation beams to fit the exact size of the tumor.

To ensure the most accurate delivery of radiation, Novalis patients are automatically positioned using X-rays and infrared three-dimensional real-time imaging. Using bony landmarks and implanted metallic markers, the Novalis computer system analyzes these images to align the patient to the precisely intended position.

Accurate Delivery Is Key
Unlike another current technology, Gamma Knife, which delivers the radiation dose through a fixed circular collimator, Novalis delivers the radiation dose through a Multileaf Collimator with movable leaves that tailor the beams precisely to contour even a tiny, irregularly shaped lesion to deliver the dose precisely to the margins of the target. The versatility of radiosurgery with Novalis allows the treatment of tumors or lesions in delicate areas, such as those in the brain, adjacent to the spinal cord or within the prostate or liver.

As Novalis steadily rotates around the patient's body during treatment, the radiation beams converge on the tumor or lesion from different angles. The tumor receives a full dose of radiation, while surrounding healthy tissue receives only a fraction of the dose.

Before deciding whether Novalis is appropriate for any patient, the treatment team will review the patient's medical history. All available treatment options will be considered, and the choice of treatment will depend on the particular diagnosis, tumor or lesion size and its location, as well as the patient's personal preference.

Benefits of Novalis^® for Tumor Treatment

• Novalis is one of the most technologically advanced procedures available today.
• Novalis is extremely precise, so radiation damage to healthy tissue is minimized.
• Novalis is noninvasive, with only minor incisions for cranial procedures.
• Novalis is virtually painless, and treatment is usually performed on an outpatient basis.
• Novalis shapes the radiation beams to accurately match the outline of the tumor or lesion, allowing the versatility to treat tumors in the most delicate areas.

For more information about this exciting technology, please call The Regional Cancer Center at 561-793-6500.

Kishore K. Dass, MD, is a board-certified radiation oncologist and Medical Director of The Regional Cancer Center. Dr. Dass is a graduate of the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and an alumnus of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, where he was instrumental in the development of stereotactic radiosurgery.

Wellington Regional Medical Center, 10101 Forest Hill Blvd. Wellington, FL 33414 (561) 798-8500