UC Davis Cancer Center, a comprehensive, NCI-designated cancer center located in Sacramento, CA, recently went live with the Elekta® Synergy® image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) platform featuring Elekta® XVI (X-ray Volume Imaging). Together with IMPAC’s image-enabled electronic medical record (EMR), these systems provide a state-of-the-art image-guided treatment management (IGTM™) solution.

Committed users of IMPAC’s oncology management system since 1998, the UC Davis team wanted a treatment solution to fully support its extensive research goals. In 2002, UC Davis began searching for a next-generation IGRT delivery solution — a search that quickly led them to Elekta Synergy and the advanced imaging capabilities of Elekta Synergy XVI cone beam CT. Fully supported by IMPAC’s image-enabled oncology EMR, Elekta Synergy provides a unique combination of sophisticated imaging technology and IMPAC integration that meets the UC Davis team’s requirements for clinical workflow and research.

Committed to best-of-breed technology

“UC Davis uses best-of-breed systems such as Elekta Synergy for highly targeted forms of radiotherapy, such as Image-Guided Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IG IMRT), and IMPAC for centralized data management,” says Dr. Srinivasan Vijayakumar, Radiation Oncology Department Chair. “Synergy promises to allow physicians to better visualize tumors and/or bony landmarks at the point of treatment to more precisely target tumors with radiation beams, thus potentially reducing treatment margins, allowing dose escalation and/or increased normal tissue sparing. We use the IMPAC system to manage that process including, verifying the treatment plan and position prior to recording treatment, and for quality assurance purposes in our weekly chart rounds. The interface between IMPAC and Elekta results in greater accuracy and effectiveness in providing the advanced treatment techniques,” he adds.

Smooth implementation

Already proficient IMPAC users, UC Davis found that the implementation of the Elekta Synergy and its online imaging capability went quite smoothly. The highly functional and efficient workflow of the IMPAC system, and the benefits of accessing information and images in one seamlessly integrated, user environment has expedited the transition to the new Elekta Synergy IGRT system.

Developing RT PACS

 “In addition, we are working with Elekta, IMPAC and others to develop a first generation Radiation Therapy Picture Archive Communication System (RT PACS),” says Dr. James A. Purdy head of the radiation oncology physics group at the Cancer Center.  “By leveraging the existing electronic chart, with a state-of-the-art RT PACS, we will be able to facilitate the use of Elekta’s innovative imaging and delivery features into routine clinical practice.”

UC Davis Cancer Center


UC Davis Department of Radiation Oncology Staff