Varian Medical Systems Inc. on Monday announced that demand for its radiotherapy systems has helped to drive strong net order growth in its Oncology Systems business during the fourth fiscal quarter FY04, sending its stock up nearly 20 percent.

Nucletron B.V. of the Netherlands exhibited its newest products for cancer treatment at the 46th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) this week in Atlanta.

Radiation therapy is reaching new heights with IMRT. It is delivering lethal dosages of radiation to tumors while sparing adjacent, critical structures - meaning higher cure rates for patients and less complications.

Radiation therapy is reaching new heights with IMRT. It is delivering lethal dosages of radiation to tumors while sparing adjacent, critical structures - meaning higher cure rates for patients and less complications.

ASTRO 2004 Preview

As the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) meets this month in Atlanta, the focus of the educational sessions is on intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), brachytherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, PET/CT, and image-guided treatment planning and therapy. Of the varied types of cancers, prostate, breast, lung and head and neck cancers are getting the most attention. (A preview of new products on the exhibit floor starts on page 14.)

To avoid compromises, networks supporting radiation oncology must rely on multiple fiber paths, switches with primary and secondary backup and uninterruptible power supplies that won't let them down.

The Nomos Radiation Oncology Division of North American Scientific Inc. this week introduced ActiveRX, new real dose adjustment tools incorporated in the latest version of the company's flagship intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) inverse treatme