The Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan) in Mexico City has installed a new linear accelerator and a 4-D tomographic simulator [1, 2].
This upgrade aims to address a critical gap in oncology care in Mexico, where cancer causes an average of 220 deaths per day [4]. By integrating more precise technology, the institute seeks to lower side effects for patients and reduce the extensive waiting times often associated with public health services.
The project represents an investment of 209 million pesos [1]. The new equipment allows for higher precision in targeting tumors, which is essential for improving patient outcomes and minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
According to the institute, the facility can now support a throughput of 100 patients per day [4]. This increased efficiency is part of a broader strategy to expand the center's total capacity to treat 40,000 patients per year [1].
The addition of the 4-D tomographic simulator allows clinicians to better account for the movement of organs and tumors during the breathing cycle. This capability ensures that the radiation beam remains focused on the target, reducing the likelihood of missing the tumor or irradiating healthy organs [2].
INCan officials said the goal is to provide more precise and faster treatments to a larger volume of the population. The integration of these tools is intended to modernize the battle against cancer within the national health infrastructure [1, 2].
“The project represents an investment of 209 million pesos.”
The installation of high-precision radiation technology at a national institute signals a shift toward reducing the diagnostic and treatment bottlenecks in Mexico's public health system. By increasing daily throughput and annual capacity, the facility is attempting to scale its response to a high national mortality rate while adopting 4-D imaging to minimize the long-term morbidity associated with less precise radiation therapy.
