Anadolu Medical Center first tattoo and mark-free in Turkey

Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul has become the first in Turkey to offer tattoo and mark-free radiation therapy.

“We now use AlignRT across all SBRT, SRS, conventional lung, breast and abdominal treatments,” said Radiation Oncologist Prof. Hale Başak Caglar. “With this system, we have seen easier and faster set-up times (using the postural video positioning), intrafraction surface tracking and safer treatments. And as an added benefit, we are no longer tattooing our patients.”

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, Anadolu Medical Center was able to join a growing number of clinics worldwide able offering an alternative solution.

“Tattoo and markers have been used in patient setups for many years,” said Medical Physicist Nadir Küçük. “Cosmetically, patients find them unpleasant, and they can cause increased skin irritations due to hot weather and sweating, especially in the summer. But they are also psychologically disruptive. We’re pleased that in our hospital, with the help of AlignRT, we can do setups that are not only more accurate but we can do so without placing tattoos or marks on patients’ bodies.”

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.

This news story is also available in Turkish.