Inner Mongolia autonomous region's first TOMO C dual-source helical tomotherapy system has been put into clinical use at Ordos Central Hospital, with a 68-year-old pancreatic cancer patient becoming the first to receive treatment, marking a new chapter in precision cancer treatment for the region.
The new TOMO C dual-source helical tomotherapy system. [Photo/ Ordos Central Hospital]
As the world's first helical tomotherapy device featuring an integrated coaxial and co-annular design, the TOMO C system brings several key advantages. It enables simultaneous positioning, imaging, and treatment in a single workflow with sub-millimeter precision, delivering targeted radiation doses with accuracy up to ±0.25 mm and allowing for individualized dose sculpting and precise tumor cell destruction.
The system also features dual-image real-time navigation and calibration, combining high-definition positioning with continuous monitoring to promptly correct any target displacement caused by breathing or movement throughout the treatment. Its maximum irradiation range of 135 to 160 centimeters enables one-step treatment for large-area targets such as the entire brain and spinal cord, eliminating positioning errors associated with fractionated delivery.
The TOMO C is effective for complex and hard-to-reach tumors. For head and neck cancers, it avoids critical structures such as the optic nerve and brainstem, reducing radiation exposure to healthy tissue by over 40 percent and alleviating side effects like dry mouth and swallowing difficulties.
It also enables simultaneous treatment of multiple intracranial metastatic lesions, balancing tumor control with cognitive protection. Other suitable applications include bilateral breast cancer, pleural mesothelioma, pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer, paravertebral tumors, and retreatment for recurrent cases.
The introduction of this equipment is the result of collaboration between Ordos Central Hospital and Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. In March 2025, the two sides jointly established a cancer treatment center at Ordos Central Hospital, channeling Tianjin's expertise to patients in western Inner Mongolia.
This new system will further strengthen the partnership and bring precision radiotherapy services closer to home for local patients.
