Medanta – The Medicity, consistently ranked as India’s Best Private Hospital by Newsweek for six consecutive years, has further elevated its oncology services with the commissioning of the country’s most advanced Varian EDGE radiation therapy system. For the first time in India, this platform has been deployed with integrated IDENTIFY surface-guided technology, HyperArc, RapidArc Dynamic therapy, and functional SRS cones, marking a significant milestone in precision cancer treatment.
The newly introduced radiation system is designed to dramatically shorten treatment sessions—bringing them down to nearly one minute in most cases—while maintaining sub-millimetre accuracy. This enables highly precise tumor targeting with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, making treatments faster, safer, and more comfortable, even for patients with complex or high-risk cancers.
Highlighting the importance of advanced technology in healthcare delivery, Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman & Managing Director, Medanta, said, “Technology is driving a revolution in healthcare and its participation in the enhancement of medicine is a huge importance to humanity. We have opted for the latest equipment as we are steadfast in our commitment to deliver the best in healthcare, reflected in the Medanta ethos – ‘Har Ek Jaan Anmol’ (Every Life Is Invaluable).”
According to Dr. Tejinder Kataria, Chairperson, Radiation Oncology, Cancer Care at Medanta – The Medicity, the system is capable of treating a wide range of cancers, including brain metastases, head and neck cancers, breast cancer, and lung cancer. She stated, “Designed to treat a broad spectrum of cancers — including multiple brain metastases, head and neck cancers, breast cancer, and lung cancer — this equipment enhances both clinical accuracy and patient experience, reinforcing Medanta’s commitment to world-class, patient-first oncology care.”
A key feature of the Varian EDGE system is its real-time surface-guided radiation therapy enabled by IDENTIFY technology. This allows continuous tracking of patient positioning during treatment and ensures immediate correction—or automatic interruption of radiation—if any movement is detected. The technology enhances safety for patients of all ages, including children, and eliminates the need for thermoplastic immobilization masks for most cancer treatments.
The platform also offers highly customizable radiation delivery through advanced tools such as HyperArc, an isocentric VMAT technique that concentrates high-dose radiation on tumors while preserving nearby healthy tissue, and RapidArc Dynamic therapy, which enables optimized dose modulation. Additionally, functional stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) cones support the precise treatment of select benign brain conditions.
Reflecting on the evolution of radiation oncology, Dr. Kataria added, “We have come a long way from a nihilistic approach to treating cancer and towards radiation delivery over the past four decades. In the new machine, computer algorithms and the rapid dynamic movement of the multileaf collimator, along with the assembly around the patient, delivers the sub-millimeter precision in the delivery of the treatment.”
(Photo courtesy: facebook/medanta)