Elekta has announced today that the initial components of the world’s first high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided radiation therapy system are being installed at University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht.

The project, which is being carried out in collaboration with Philips, represents a breakthrough towards the creation of a clinical system capable of capturing highly detailed MR images of tumours and surrounding normal tissues as a patient receives radiotherapy.

“Elekta, Philips and University Medical Center Utrecht have allied to test the world's first high-field magnetic resonance imaging-guided radiation therapy system.“

Integrating a Philips 1.5 Tesla MRI system with an Elekta radiation therapy system, the new technology enables simultaneous imaging during beam delivery, meaning doctors could adapt radiation therapy during the procedure.

This would increase treatment accuracy, potentially reduce side effects and enable increases in the therapeutic dose to be provided in real time. UMC Utrecht will be putting the potentially groundbreaking system through its paces.

Tomas Puusepp, president and chief executive officer at Elekta, said: "We are excited about the prospect of taking high-field MRI-guided radiation therapy to the next stage."

Founded in 1972, the firm provides oncology and neurosurgery solutions for use in 6,000 hospitals globally.