Varian releases planning tool

Radiotherapy giant Varian Medical Systems has begun marketing its latest treatment planning software for brachytherapy. VariSeed 7.0 helps physicians accurately deliver precise doses by providing access to real-time images generated during the implantation of radioactive seeds. The use of these seeds to treat prostate cancer has become increasingly common, producing results comparable to radical prostatectomy but with a lower risk of side effects such as impotence and incontinence. With VariSeed 7.0, radiation oncologists can generate a treatment plan, use it to implant the seeds, and see how the radiation dose will develop within the patient's anatomy while the patient is still in the operating room. This allows for fine-tuning and more precise adjustments on the spot, according to the company. VariSeed 7.0 also introduces the ability to superimpose different kinds of diagnostic images; SPECT, for example, can demonstrate the extent of disease, while CT and ultrasound show anatomy and positioning.