On February 27-28, 2025, Tema Sinergie organized the first VisionRT User Meeting in Italy, an event that brought together industry experts to explore the potential of SGRT (Surface Guided Radiation Therapy) technology. Now, 20 years after its introduction by VisionRT, SGRT is at a true turning point, opening doors to new applications for the benefit of patients.
During the two-day event, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiotherapy technicians had the opportunity to exchange experiences and case studies related to VisionRT systems. Given the high level of participation, a collaborative and enriching environment was created, which was highly appreciated by all professionals.
A Program Full of Insights and Discussions
The first day, hosted in Bologna, began with an introduction to SGRT by Dr. Luca Vigna (Novara), followed by clinical experience presentations from experts from various Italian centres. Key topics included:
- The use of SGRT in Elekta and Varian environments, featuring experiences from Campus Bio-Medico in Rome (Dr. Edy Ippolito) and Humanitas (Dr. Carmelo Marino)
- Tattooless treatments (Dr. Andrea Botti, Reggio Emilia), which reduce the need for patient positioning tattoos
- In-depth discussions on DIBH (Dr. Rolando D’Angelillo, Tor Vergata, and Dr. Anna Giulia Becchetti, Perugia) and stereotactic treatments (Dr. Francesco Ghielmetti, Besta Milan)
- The adoption of AlignRT for Halcyon/Ethos Linacs (Dr. Claudia Grondelli and Dr. Paolo Tortoli, Parma) and for proton therapy (Dr. Marco Liotta, IEO Milan)
- SGRT guidelines (Dr. Francesco Fracchiolla, Trento) to optimize technology utilization
The second day, held in Faenza at our headquarters, opened with a focus on stereotactic treatments (Dr. Alba Fiorentino, Miulli Acquaviva), then followed by presentations on what we call SGRT 2.0: new applications of SGRT, extending beyond respiratory motion management to real-time visualization of the treatment beam (DoseRT) and non-coplanar geometry planning (MapRT).
Jad Farah, PhD (VisionRT), presented VisionRT’s roadmap, followed by Mike Tallhamer, PhD (AdventHealth, USA), who shared initial results from their clinical use of DoseRT. Later, Dr. Francesco Deodato (Campobasso) introduced the benefits of non-coplanar geometry treatments based on scientific literature, highlighting dose sparing for healthy tissues while also addressing the challenges of collision risk management. This seamlessly led to the final speech on the MapRT solution (Dr. Savino Cilla, Campobasso), which enables the safe implementation of non-coplanar geometry. The entire session was enriched with interactive moments and trivias, to get the attendees even more engaged.
A Unique Opportunity for Discussion and Growth
The VisionRT User Meeting provided a valuable opportunity to discuss the present and future of SGRT. Thanks to participant interactions and the insights gained during the sessions, the event fostered a deeper understanding of the technology’s potential, strengthening collaboration among industry professionals.
Tema Sinergie is proud to have organized and hosted this initiative, contributing to the dissemination and development of VisionRT solutions in Italy. A special thanks goes to all speakers and participants who made this two-day event truly valuable.
