Koji Matsuda
Medical Systems and Nuclear Equipment Div., Hitachi Works, Power Systems Co., Hitachi, Ltd.
Hiroyuki Itami
Medical Systems and Nuclear Equipment Div., Hitachi Works, Power Systems Co., Hitachi, Ltd.
Daishun Chiba
Nuclear Power Control and Instrumentation Systems Engineering Dept., Information & Control Systems Co., Hitachi, Ltd.
Kazuyoshi Saito, Dr. Eng.
Medical System Project, Energy & Environmental Systems Laboratory, Power Systems Co., Hitachi, Ltd.
The proton therapy facility constructed by Hitachi at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas in the USA has been completed and the four treatment rooms are now in use. Proton therapy has attracted attention as a form of radiotherapy that can concentrate irradiation dose on the tumor with minimal effect on the surrounding healthy tissue. Use of scanning irradiation systems, which represent the latest technology, is expected to improve the quality of treatment and therefore plans are in progress around the world to install these systems. The facility described here commenced its scanning irradiation treatment on May 19 2008, making it the first in the world to use a commercial scanning system with FDA clearance.
Ken Umei
Hitachi America, Ltd.
Power Systems Division
TEL: +1-914-524-6654
proton therapy, radiation therapy, scanning, pencil beam, synchrotron
