ViewRay MRIdian™ Linear Accelerator

The ViewRay MRIdian™ linear accelerator is the most advanced radiation treatment available in the United States. Hoag implemented the MR linear accelerator in 2020, through the generosity of community donors Dean and Gerda Koontz, and was the first in Orange County, second in the state and 16th in the nation to offer this adaptive radiation oncology. We have since treated more than 2,000 patients, a level of experience that is unmatched in Southern California.

Unlike traditional linear accelerators, the adaptive ViewRay MRIdian uses MRI imaging combined with a linear accelerator, giving Hoag clinicians real-time, high-resolution images of a patient’s tumor during treatment. If the tumor shifts from movement in the bowels or the patient’s breath, treatment stops to avoid radiating healthy tissue. This level of precision allows Hoag clinicians to deliver a higher, potentially more effective, radiation dose while sparing healthy surrounding tissue and decreasing side effects.

Usually, CT scans are taken before radiation treatment to help clinicians map out where to align the radiation beam during treatment sessions. But this does not consider normal functions of the body like breathing or movement in the gastrointestinal tract, which can cause the tumor and/or normal tissues and organs to move from day to day throughout the course of treatment. As a result, the healthy surrounding tissue risks being damaged in the process. With MR Linac imaging, Hoag clinicians can deliver more targeted radiation, often in fewer sessions, while sparing healthy surrounding tissue – with a shorter course of treatment overall.

Contact a Hoag Radiation Oncologist to see if this type of radiation therapy is right for you. Call 949-7-CANCER for a consultation.