Advanced technology delivers faster, more precise cancer treatment for patients

Worcester, Mass. – January 8, 2026: Saint Vincent Hospital marks a major milestone in cancer care with the addition of its new state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam™ linear accelerator, bringing the latest generation of radiation therapy technology to patients in Central Massachusetts.

The machine represents a multi-million-dollar investment in advanced technology and is designed to provide patients with faster treatment and a higher level of precision in cancer care.  

TrueBeam technology, developed by Varian Medical Systems, is designed to support powerful cancer treatment by combining advanced imaging and motion-management technologies. This sophisticated system is intended to allow clinicians to deliver treatment more efficiently while closely monitoring and compensating for tumor motion.

The new TrueBeam system introduces HyperSight™ imaging technology, which is designed to provide enhanced image quality that allow clinicians to visualize tumors and surrounding anatomy with greater clarity and speed during daily treatments. This capability is intended to support faster, more confident treatment decisions and improved patient outcomes.

Saint Vincent Hospital has implemented the RapidArc® Dynamic conformal arc technique on the TrueBeam platform. This advanced delivery technique is designed to dynamically shape and modulate the radiation beam in real time as it rotates around the patient, supporting highly conformal dose distributions while helping to reduce treatment times.

“This new TrueBeam platform, combined with HyperSight and RapidArc Dynamic represents a transformative leap forward in precision, safety, and patient comfort,” said Dr. Lakshmi Shanmugham, MD, Chief of Radiation Oncology at Saint Vincent Hospital. “We are now able to deliver the most sophisticated radiation treatments available anywhere in the world, right here in Worcester, while continuing our commitment to minimizing side effects and maximizing quality of life for our patients.”

The department has also integrated AlignRT® surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) technology, a camera-based system from Vision RT, which is designed to support real-time, non-invasive patient positioning and motion management without the need for permanent skin marks or additional radiation exposure. AlignRT is intended to help clinicians implement heart-sparing Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) techniques for left-sided breast cancer patients, potentially reducing unnecessary radiation dose to the heart. The system is also designed to support the hospital’s Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) programs by helping clinicians achieve sub-millimeter precision in complex treatment cases.

Saint Vincent Hospital remains committed to delivering innovative, patient-centered radiation oncology services to Central Massachusetts and surrounding communities. Our Cancer and Wellness Center provides adult cancer patients with comprehensive, advanced outpatient treatment for a broad range of conditions.

Our Cancer Center continues to be a leader in patient-centered care. In the third quarter of last year, patient experience scores for both Radiation Oncology and Chemotherapy Infusion achieved 99% overall satisfaction, placing us in the top 1% nationally and reflecting the exceptional quality of care we provide.

Our expert team is comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, radiation therapists, rehabilitation therapists, social workers, nutritionists, and many additional team members whose expertise, sensitivity, kindness and dedication helps cancer patients and their families cope with a difficult cancer diagnosis. Our Comprehensive Cancer Program is recognized for delivering outstanding care and support at every stage of treatment.

About Saint Vincent Hospital 

Saint Vincent Hospital is an acute care teaching hospital providing general and tertiary medical services to residents of Worcester and Central Massachusetts. From newborns to seniors, Saint Vincent Hospital is built on care and has a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, including open-heart surgery, neurosurgery, cardiovascular medicine, orthopedics and the Saint Vincent Cancer and Wellness Center. Saint Vincent Hospital was founded by the Sisters of Providence and has over a century-long tradition providing quality healthcare. It was the first hospital in Central Massachusetts to offer robotically assisted surgical procedures and minimally invasive, computer-assisted joint replacements.  U.S. News & World Report named Saint Vincent Hospital a 2025-2026 Best Regional Hospital and recognized ten high performing specialty care areas including: Aortic Aneurysm Repair, Congestive Heart Failure, COPD, Diabetes, Hip Replacement, Kidney Failure, Knee Replacement, Lung Cancer Surgery, Pneumonia, Heart Arrhythmia.  Saint Vincent Hospital is located at 123 Summer Street, Worcester, MA and has a variety of medical group locations throughout the region. To learn more, visit www.StVincentHospital.com.