First patient in Canada treated on MR-Linac - Elekta Unity
Today, members of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre’s radiation team treated the first patient in Canada on the new MR-Linac — the Elekta Unity.
This technology is the first machine in the world to combine radiation and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and will let doctors at the Odette Cancer Centre target tumours and monitor their response to radiation with unprecedented precision — even as a tumour moves inside the body — thanks to the machine's real-time MRI guidance.
Today, the team watched on MRI as a beam of radiation hit a glioblastoma. Seeing the radiation hit the target means the team can ensure exceptional precision, spare healthy tissue, and adjust the radiation target if needed.
As a founding member of the Elekta MR-Linac consortium and the first Canadian centre to install an MR-Linac, Sunnybrook's team made significant contributions to the development and implementation of this technology beginning with a clinical trial. The team will remain at the forefront of cancer care, and an invaluable source of expertise and teaching for cancer ablation specialists across the country.
