_aqb_articles_page_title_browse_latest RSSTue, 10 Mar 2026 09:18:17 GMTFor more than a decade, Instituto Zunino in Córdoba, Argentina has been recognized as a regional reference center for high-precision radiotherapy. Built on long-standing clinical expertise and a strong culture of quality, the center has developed a mature SRS and SBRT program that continues to evolve through structured processes, external validation and a commitment to shared learning.The team’s journey with Brainlab technology began in 2009 with iPlan RT and expanded in 2011 with ExacTrac X-Ray. Today, RT Elements is clinically adopted across the department of four treatment machines, supported by ExacTrac Dynamic—forming the technical backbone of daily practice.A benchmark for quality: Novalis CertificationAt Instituto Zunino, maintaining excellence means welcoming independent evaluation. First Novalis Certified in 2016, and successfully re-certified in 2020 and 2025, the team has consistently demonstrated its commitment to quality, safety and transparency. The most recent re-certification reinforces the center’s alignment with international standards and its place within the Novalis Certified community.Why certification matters—in their own wordsSilvia Zunino, MD, PhD, Director and Founder of Instituto Zunino and Fundación Marie Curie, explains: “Novalis Certification confirms that we work according to the same standards as leading centers in the United States and Europe. It gives us confidence in our methods and supports continuous improvement.”Daniel Venencia, PhD, Head of Medical Physics, adds: “Even as an experienced institution, having our work audited helps us identify opportunities to improve. Clearly defined protocols and external review ensure our patients receive the best possible treatment.” Motivated by his commitment to excellence in SRS and SBRT and to support his colleagues, Daniel Venencia has now joined the Novalis Certification Program team as an auditor.Beyond the clinic: sharing expertise to advance the regionInstituto Zunino’s impact extends ... Read more

]]>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:18:17 GMTAt TUM University Hospital in Munich, the radiotherapy team faces a growing number of complex cranial cases. From patients with dozens of brain metastases to those requiring retreatment, manual contouring can be time-intensive and variable across operators. As case volumes rise, the team has been exploring new ways to maintain consistency and efficiency without compromising clinical accuracy.The challenge: segmentation at scaleFor radiosurgery teams, delineating multiple metastases or large primary tumors is one of the most demanding steps in planning. Each contour must be precise, consistent and reproducible. As the number of lesions increases, so does the time required for manual work and the risk of inter-operator variability. The team at TUM University Hospital needed a way to standardize segmentation while keeping pace with growing treatment demands.The innovation: AI-powered segmentation integrated into routine workflowsTUM University Hospital became one of the first clinical centers to implement Brainlab Elements AI Tumor Segmentation in daily practice. Utilizing contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI scans, the software automatically identifies enhancing tumor tissue using a neural-network-based model trained on more than 4,000 scans and 11,000 expert annotations.The workflow supports:Semi-automatic segmentation of multiple brain metastases for SRSSemi-automatic segmentation of other cranial tumors, including meningiomas, cranial nerve tumors, gliomas, glioneuronal and neuronal tumorsFast processing with a segmentation duration of under one minute per contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR image set*Within just one month, the team incorporated the AI tool into all cranial planning workflows, including Gamma Knife (Elekta AB, Sweden) and retreatment reviews.The shift: efficiency that reinforces precisionEarly observations at TUM University Hospital show strong performance for brain metastases larger than 3 mm and primary tumors over 10 mm. By automating the most time-co... Read more

]]>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:10:28 GMTThe challenge: serving a large region with growing clinical complexityIn northern Poland, Centrum Onkologii im. prof. Franciszka Łukaszczyka w Bydgoszczy caters to a vast geographical region where many patients travel long distances for specialized care. As a center with extensive experience in treating tumors of the central nervous system, the demand for their services expanded, and the team faced a growing number of cases requiring high-quality radiosurgery.Table 1: The number of SRS and SBRT treatments at the Oncology Center in Bydgoszczy has increased by almost 2,000% in less than a decade.In 2024 alone, the team treated 340 patients with brain metastases, 71 with spinal metastases, 134 patients with meningiomas and 56 with vestibular schwannomas (VIII nerve)—plus over 350 extracranial cases.Over more than 15 years, the center further developed their comprehensive SRS and SBRT program. What began in 2009 with BrainSCAN, the first treatment planning solution from Brainlab, continued through iPlan RT and has since evolved into the broad adoption of RT Elements across eight treatment machines, alongside Brainlab ExacTrac Dynamic. Increasing patient volumes as well as multifocal disease presentations pushed the team to refine workflows capable of handling high case complexity on a day-to-day basis.As case numbers and complexity continued to rise, the team began to push conventional planning boundaries—not just in theory, but in daily clinical practice. One case treated in May 2025 became a clear example of how their approach could scale even to highly extensive disease presentations.The case: planning for 34 brain metastases in a single patientA 67-year-old man presented with headaches, nausea and vomiting. Imaging revealed 34 brain metastases along with an adrenal lesion associated with newly diagnosed lung adenocarcinoma. Despite the high lesion count, the patient’s clinical condition remained good, and systemic therapy offered a meaningful survival outlook. The t... Read more

]]>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:56:33 GMTAt the University Hospital for Radiation Oncology Innsbruck, prostate cancer treatment is built on precision and teamwork. Treating 15–20 patients each day, the department has refined an implanted marker workflow that gives clinicians full control over imaging and positioning. Under Professor Ute Ganswindt’s leadership, the team has made accuracy a shared focus across every step of care.The challenge: motion that doesn’t wait - Even in treatments lasting only a few minutes, the prostate can shift without warning. In Innsbruck, this unpredictable movement appeared in one third of monitored sessions. Small deviations could accumulate across a VMAT arc with the potential to affect dose coverage and increase toxicity. To move toward shorter, more efficient treatment schedules, the team needed a way to quantify and correct that motion reliably in real time.The innovation: an implanted marker workflow built for precision - Using the Brainlab ExacTrac Dynamic implanted marker workflow, the Innsbruck team was able to detect and correct for prostate motion. Continuous X-ray monitoring of fiducial markers helped clinicians maintain target alignment throughout treatment and prevent deviations from building over time. With marker implantation performed directly within the radiation oncology department, the workflow also allowed seamless integration with imaging and planning protocols and ensured strong ownership of each step.The shift: confidence to move toward ultra-hypofractionation - With precise, reliable motion management in place, the team began transitioning from conventional and moderately hypofractionated regimens to ultra-hypofractionated protocols. Their goal was clear: shorten the overall treatment pathway while maintaining the accuracy necessary to protecting nearby healthy structures and minimizing toxicity. The established collaboration across teams and the efficiency and precision of the implanted marker workflow provided the necessary foundation to make that sh... Read more

]]>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:15:29 GMTIn recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we celebrate Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, for leading a simple yet meaningful change to enhance patient modesty in breast cancer care.The challenge: Traditionally, patients were asked to change into standard hospital gowns before treatment—a routine step that often left them feeling exposed and uneasy. Beyond comfort, these gowns could also interrupt workflow, requiring therapists to readjust or remove fabric during patient setup.The innovation: Technology meets humanity. Recognizing the emotional impact of this experience, the team introduced a new “clothing-on” protocol. Breast cancer patients are now encouraged to wear their own suitable clothing, such as a plain, light-colored t-shirt, that allows for treatment positioning while maintaining modesty.*This approach is used with Brainlab ExacTrac Dynamic, a state-of-the-art positioning and monitoring system that combines surface-guided and image-guided technology for submillimetric accuracy.Benefits at a glance with the new "clothing-on" protocol according to the Hanyang University Hospital: Preserves patient modesty and comfortEnables setup with ExacTrac Dynamic without the need for permanent tattoos or skin marksStreamlines workflow and reduces setup timeIn their words: “What matters most is that our patients feel comfortable throughout the treatment process. With the new system, we can ease much of their burden, and that gives us great fulfillment in our work.” – Dr. Hae Jin Park, Radiation Oncologist, Head of Radiation Oncology Department“The fact that patients no longer need to repeatedly change clothes or have skin markers drawn is one of the most satisfying improvements. It not only shortens the setup time, but also enhances patients’ overall quality of life. Since we no longer use ink, the treatment room stays cleaner and more pleasant, and maintenance is much easier. For breast cancer patients especially, some used to feel uncomfor... Read more

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