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Edinburgh installs new veterinary linear accelerator
The new accelerator is equipped to deliver the most advanced forms of radiation therapy.

Advanced therapy offers new cancer treatment options

The University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has announced the introduction of a new linear accelerator, placing it at the forefront of veterinary cancer treatment in Europe.


The new accelerator is designed to provide more targeted treatment, meaning that higher doses of radiation can be given less frequently. It also means that patients can have a shorter stay in hospital and receive fewer anaesthetics.


Offering the same cutting edge treatment options you will find in any human hospital, the accelerator is equipped to deliver the most advanced forms of radiation therapy. This includes static gantry intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), dynamic gantry IMRT/RarpidArc, electron therapy and conventional 3D radiation therapy. 


It will be operated by a team including American and European boarded veterinary radiation oncologist Dr Magdalena Parys, European board certified oncologist Juan Carlos Serra, and therapeutic radiographer Emma McCormick. 


The University said in a press release: “IMRT is an advanced treatment technique, which allows the delivery of a precise dose of treatment to almost any tumour shape. In particular cases, this technique reduces the dose to normal structures, which decreases side effects in normal tissues which are close to the tumour. 


“Secondly, can IMRT allow an increased total dose of radiation to be delivered to the tumour. A common example is the use of IMRT to spare the eyes, brain, skin and oral cavity when treating nasal tumours. R(D)SVS is the only place in the UK to offer IMRT.”


The accelerator is also equipped with cone-beam CT imaging facilities, which enables the radiation oncologist to position the animal with greater accuracy so that treatment is safer and more effective. It is the only veterinary linear accelerator UK with this capability. 


The University added: "The new radiation unit will also soon be able to treat patients with stereotactic radiotherapy. This is a type of protocol that usually consists of one, two or three high-dose radiotherapy fractions, delivered with pin-point accuracy and in a short period of time. 


“By giving much more targeted treatment you can give high doses less frequently as you are mainly hitting the tumour cells, not the adjacent normal tissues. It also means a shorter stay in the hospital and less anaesthetics. This type of radiotherapy treatment modality has been successfully implemented in other places in the world for many tumour types, such as nasal and brain tumours.”

Image (C) University of Edinburgh.

 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.