Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has successfully conducted its first-ever Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) procedure using the advanced Varian TrueBeam platform, in a landmark medical achievement for Kenya’s public health sector.
The procedure was carried out on a 51-year-old female patient, MW, who was diagnosed with brain metastases originating from breast cancer. Following five treatment sessions, doctors reported a remarkable improvement in her prognosis.
According to Dr. Jesse Opakas, Director of Hemato-Oncology at MTRH, SRS provides a minimally invasive alternative for treating complex and otherwise inoperable brain conditions.
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“SRS uses precisely focused radiation beams to deliver high doses of radiation to small, well-defined targets, with exceptional accuracy and minimal harm to surrounding healthy tissue,” said Dr. Opakas.
He explained that SRS can be administered using different platforms, such as Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, and charged particle accelerators. The technique’s benefits include its noninvasive nature, reduced treatment sessions, and effectiveness in targeting hard-to-reach tumours.
The procedure for patient MW was completed over five sessions, each lasting between five and ten minutes, demonstrating the speed and efficiency of the TrueBeam technology.
SRS is commonly used to treat a wide range of conditions, including benign and malignant brain tumors such as meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, and metastatic tumors; vascular abnormalities like arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), dural arteriovenous fistulas, and cavernomas; as well as functional disorders including trigeminal neuralgia, epilepsy, and other movement disorders.
Dr. Philip Kirwa, CEO of MTRH, hailed the successful launch of SRS as a transformative step in cancer care.
“This is an impactful investment that will touch many lives. SRS is revolutionizing modern oncology and neurosurgery. It represents a big leap toward achieving better patient outcomes,” he said.
The introduction of SRS at MTRH adds to the hospital’s expanding arsenal of cancer treatment technologies, which already includes Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Brachytherapy, and 3D Conformal Radiotherapy.
The hospital also provides chemotherapy and a wide range of surgical oncology services.
Dr. Kirwa expressed his gratitude to the Government of Kenya, the Ministry of Health, the hospital’s board, and staff for their support in enabling the launch of this advanced treatment modality.
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