State-Of-The-Art Linear Accelerator (LINAC) Machine Inaugurated At Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute

Guwahati: As a part of its initiative for infrastructure development, the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India installed a state-of-the-art Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute for the benefit of the people of the State of Assam and the North Eastern Region. This was inaugurated by K N Vyas, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India on 8th February 2019.

The new State-of-the-art Linear Accelerator machine has enhanced features of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Every year around 4000 new cancer patients are treated by radiotherapy in the institute with a 75,000 working load of patients. The newly installed LINAC has dual photon energy which shall be useful to treat all kinds of tumors with the VMAT delivery technique, which will reduce the treatment time. Availability of flattening filter free (FFF) photon beam with this machine is a boon for the treatment of childhood cancers with higher doses, which was not possible with earlier LINACs. This facility is presently available at only few select cancer centres in the country. With this, BBCI has 4 Linear Accelerators with high-end features and 2 tele-cobalt machines.

According to Dr Amal Chandra Kataki, Director of BBCI, the use of IGRT and IMRT techniques have increased precision in radiotherapy, and thereby allows for more powerful beams of radiation resulting in higher cure rates. It will also minimize the side effect of radiotherapy. Furthermore, this state of the art facility can be availed by underprivileged sections of our society who are afflicted with cancer, as the hospital is offering the new LINAC at highly subsidized and affordable rates. Also, the waiting time for radiotherapy will come down with the full operation of the new LINAC. It may be stated that BBCI conducts MD in Radiotherapy, Master of Science in Radiological Physics and many other post graduate and super specialty courses.

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