Elekta's Gamma Knife Icon now Available in 50 Health Centers Globally, Including Poliambulanza Foundation Hospital in Italy

STOCKHOLM, October 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Elekta (EKTA-B.ST) today announced that Poliambulanza Foundation Hospital is the 50th health center globally and the first in Italy to treat patients with its Leksell Gamma Knife® Icon™ stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) system. Gamma Knife has been widely adopted across Italy, with eight earlier-generation systems already in use prior to the installation of Icon at Poliambulanza. The growing availability of Gamma Knife throughout the country is expanding access to and use of cutting-edge SRS technology to treat intracranial lesions, including brain tumors.

The first patient treated with the Icon system at Poliambulanza was a 70-year old woman with a vestibular schwannoma, a benign skull base tumor that affects nerves involved with hearing and balance. Gamma Knife surgery is a standard of care treatment for this indication, and is performed with the goal of stopping tumor growth, while preserving facial nerve function and hearing.

"Icon gives us a complete suite of therapeutic options for patients with cranial tumors and other neurologic indications," said Dr. Alberto Franzin, Neurosurgeon, head of the Gamma Knife and Functional Neurosurgery Unit. "The Icon system provides the precision and accuracy for which Gamma Knife has long been known while giving us the flexibility to deliver treatment in single or multiple sessions. It also enables hypofractionated treatments with the use of the thermoplastic mask in place of the stereotactic frame. Combined, these features increase the number of patients who can benefit from Gamma Knife surgery."

Since 2011, the Poliambulanza Hospital has partnered with Elekta to provide advanced radiation therapy to its patients, including SRS with two Elekta linear accelerators. With the implementation of Icon, the hospital can expand their SRS offerings to a greater number of patients across a wider range of indications. Icon can be used in both frameless and fractionated treatment approaches, expanding physician options for patient-specific needs.

"There is great demand for radiation therapy with linear accelerators, which places a heavy burden on the equipment and personnel in our department," said Dr. Mario Bignardi, Radiation Oncologist, head of the Radiation Oncology Department. "With the addition of Icon, we now have a flexible mix of radiation delivery systems that allow us to provide optimized treatment to all patients, regardless of whether they have complex cases that require SRS or conditions that are best treated with hypofractionated stereotactic radiation therapy, such as large malignant tumors or tumors very close to the optical pathway."  

"Icon is the only dedicated intracranial solution on the market, and health centers around the world recognize the safety, efficacy and comfort benefits that the system provides to patients," said Francois Pointurier, Elekta's Senior Vice President, Western and Central Europe. "Aside from improving care, the implementation of Icon enhances a center's linear accelerator capabilities, which helps to increase the volume of intracranial SRS procedures, while minimizing treatment delays and improving operating efficiencies and health care economics for radiosurgery departments."

At the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) Annual Meeting, October 1-5 in Venice, Italy, Elekta will showcase its Leksell Gamma Knife Icon radiosurgery system alongside its recently released Leksell® Vantage™ Stereotactic System. To learn more, visit booth 5 or visit elekta.com/Icon.

[i] Ma L, Nichol A, Hossain S, et al. Variable dose interplay effects across radiosurgical apparatus in treating multiple brain metastases. Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg. 2014;9(6):1079-86.

For further information, please contact:

Gert van Santen
Group Vice President Corporate Communications
Elekta AB
Tel: +31-653-561-242
E-mail: [email protected]
Time zone: CET: Central European Time

Raven Canzeri
Global Public Relations Manager
Tel: +1-770-670-2524
E-mail: [email protected]
Time zone: EST: Eastern Standard Time

About Elekta

Elekta is proud to be the leading innovator of equipment and software used to improve, prolong and save the lives of people with cancer and brain disorders. Our advanced, effective solutions are created in collaboration with customers, and more than 6,000 hospitals worldwide rely on Elekta technology. Our treatment solutions and oncology informatics portfolios are designed to enhance the delivery of radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, and to drive cost efficiency in clinical workflows. Elekta employs 3,600 people around the world. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Elekta is listed on NASDAQ Stockholm. www.elekta.com.

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