“A breakthrough” Shenzhen People’s Hospital becomes first tattoo & mark-free center in China

On the morning of February 24, 2021, Shenzhen People’s Hospital became the first in China to offer tattoo and mark-free radiation therapy treatments.

“This is a breakthrough in radiotherapy treatment,” said Zhong Heli, Director of Radiation Therapy Center at Shenzhen People’s Hospital. “We have been successfully using Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT) technology since 2018 and we expanded its use in 2020, to provide better treatment to our patients. And we are now confident in its use for tattoo and mark-free treatments, which helps us bring patient care up to the next level.”

Traditional radiation therapy sometimes requires patients to receive small, often permanent tattoos on their skin to help position them for treatment. According to a recent study, around 70% of women treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer had negative feelings about these markings. Using AlignRT, Shenzhen People’s Hospital was able to join a growing number of clinics worldwide able offering an alternative solution.

“AlignRT ensures the position and treatment accuracy of tattoo and mark-free breast cancer radiotherapy, and the successful implementation of this technology is very meaningful for our patients,” said Zhang Guangwei, Radiotherapist. “Patients no longer have to endure the pain of tattoos or the long-term psychological stress that comes with these reminders of their status as cancer patients. At the same time, using AlignRT also shortens the time we need for CT positioning and treatment, and saves time in our workflow.”

AlignRT uses 3D stereo cameras to monitor a patient’s skin surface in real-time and compare it to the ideal position with sub-millimetric accuracy. This ensures radiation is delivered only when a patient is correctly positioned, enhancing safety and comfort and eliminating the need for tattoos and other permanent marks. Vision RT is working with clinical staff around the world to enable more centers to be able to offer this option.

Click here to find a clinic offering tattoo and mark-free radiation therapy near you.