Cancer has remained the leading cause of death in Taiwan for 43 consecutive years. On the 16th, Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) announced the official launch of its NT$300 million photon therapy linear accelerator, designed to monitor tumor and body surface changes in real time, significantly enhancing the precision of radiotherapy. Another powerful cancer-fighting technology, the accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) system, is also set to break ground in July and is expected to be completed by 2027.
TVGH Superintendent Wei-Ming Chen stated that cancer patients currently account for nearly one-third of the hospital’s inpatient population. Previously, patients in the Evergreen Building had to move between buildings for radiotherapy, increasing mobility risks and reducing care efficiency. With the opening of the one-stop Photon Therapy Center on B3 of the Evergreen Building, inpatients can now receive treatment nearby, significantly improving convenience and overall care experience — a key step in realizing the hospital’s “patient-centered” holistic care philosophy.
TVGH noted that the newly introduced high-dose-rate image-guided medical linear accelerator is equipped with a thermal imaging-guided tracking and correction system. It is currently the only system capable of real-time monitoring of both tumor and body surface changes during treatment, with automatic positional correction. This not only enhances treatment accuracy but also upholds patient privacy and dignity.
The hospital also confirmed that the accelerator-based BNCT system will begin construction in July and is slated for completion by 2027. Upon completion, TVGH will be among the few institutions worldwide equipped with both heavy particle therapy and boron neutron capture therapy — two cutting-edge radiation technologies — marking a major advancement in cancer treatment, education, and research.
As a national medical center, TVGH continues to introduce the world’s most advanced cancer therapies, including precision radiotherapy, cell therapy, and heavy particle therapy. The launch of the new photon therapy linear accelerator is a significant milestone in precision radiation treatment and offers cancer patients a broader array of advanced, comprehensive therapeutic options and renewed hope for recovery.
Resource: 北榮光子治療直線加速器啟用 斥資3億提升放療精準度
