The Radiation Therapy business unit is responsible for the provision of brachytherapy and radiotherapy products all around the globe.
We offer a comprehensive portfolio of brachytherapy products, which comprises permanent prostate implants, so called seeds, in a loose and stranded form as well as ophthalmic applicators for the treatment of eye tumors. Our product range also includes radiotherapy accessories.
Eckert & Ziegler Medical manufactures small, radioactive implants, so called seeds, which are mainly used in LDR brachytherapy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. The seeds take the form of little capsules containing a minuscule quantity of a radioactive isotope, I-125 (Iodine-125). They are implanted into the prostate, where they remain permanently and destroy the cancer cells.
In many centers, brachytherapy is the first choice of treatment for uveal melanomas. This modality is also useful for some retinoblastomas and conjunctival melanomas. With this form of radiotherapy, a radioactive plaque containing ruthenium-106 is sutured to the wall of the eye, adjacent to the tumor, and left in place for several days until the required dose of radiation has been delivered.
Eckert & Ziegler Medical also offers accessories for radiotherapy. These include gold markers in pre-loaded needles that are dedicated to optimize target visualization during external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy procedures. The placement of markers in soft tissue or organs prior to therapeutic treatments helps to provide for clearer identification of anatomic regions around a purposed treatment site.
Our commitment goes beyond providing products to improve the quality of treatment; we also offer additional services. These services allow you to educate your patients about the therapy and implants before treatment and provide individualized aftercare.
Thanks to the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt and their project about the European standardization on dosimetry for electronic brachytherapy, we are one of five intraoperative systems providers that are being scientifically evaluated. This will provide us with useful information about our own system, i.e. physical measurements.
The BRAPHYQS project WP22 on ocular brachytherapy with Ru-106 has been successfully advanced. Two international surveys were carried out to analyze current clinical practice in physics and physician use. The first results, covering commissioning, quality assurance, and treatment planning, have been published and demonstrate considerable variability among centers. A second publication, reporting on the physician survey, will follow soon. The project was supported by the industry, in particular by Eckert & Ziegler.
Reference: De Brabandere et al. GEC-ESTRO survey of 106Ru eye applicator practice for ocular melanoma – Physicist survey. Radiother Oncol 193 (2024).
https://www.thegreenjournal.com/article/S0167-8140(24)00035-5/abstract
The Victoria Cohen Eye Cancer Charitable Trust helps aspiring ocular oncologists by awarding scholarships to those in need of financial assistance for their fellowships, anywhere in the world. Eckert & Ziegler is proud to support the VCECCT and its commendable cause.
