The National Cancer Center (NCC) has introduced a cutting-edge radiation therapy designated as a new medical technology to enhance the accuracy of patient treatment.

The National Cancer Center announced on Tuesday that it had introduced “Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT),” a real-time surface-guided radiation therapy for radiation treatment, in five linear accelerator treatment rooms starting from Thursday last week.

SGRT is an advanced radiation therapy technology that has been recognized for its safety and efficacy by the Ministry of Health and Welfare's New Medical Technology Evaluation Committee and was officially designated as a new medical technology through a revision of the notice on Jan. 29, 2024.

This technology uses high-resolution sensor cameras installed on the ceiling of the treatment room to create a three-dimensional image of the patient's body surface during radiation therapy. During treatment, it continuously monitors patient movement and automatically stops radiation delivery if the patient deviates from the planned treatment position.

It is especially effective in improving treatment accuracy for head and neck cancer (open-facemask treatment), breast cancer patients requiring precise treatment, and tumors in areas with high patient movement, such as soft tissue tumors in the limbs. Additionally, it reduces errors in patient positioning (setup) and minimizes unnecessary radiation exposure.

Until now, radiation therapy required marking the treatment area with henna or tattoos. Patients had to avoid showering during treatment to prevent the marks from fading, causing inconvenience in their daily lives. However, SGRT enables precise treatment without any marks using a non-invasive method.

“SGRT is more than a simple treatment aid. It is a core platform that improves patient safety and treatment accuracy,” said Kim Tae-hyun, director of the Department of Radiation Oncology. “The ability to provide precise and effective treatment to radiation therapy patients is a very significant advancement.”

Treatment utilizing SGRT-based technology has been designated as a new medical technology under the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s regulations and is classified as a non-covered item.