World-Class Neuroscience Center Treats First Patient with Elekta's Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion Radiosurgery System

- U.K.'s The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery to advance frontiers in radiosurgery research and clinical practice

LONDON, Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A 60-year-old male patient with an acoustic neuroma became the first person to receive Gamma Knife® radiosurgery at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN, London). NHNN clinicians gave the treatment on October 29, officially inaugurating its radiosurgery service at its new Queen Square Radiosurgery Centre (QSRC). NHNN's Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ will serve as the platform on which to launch a full-scale program of radiosurgery research and clinical activities. QSRC is the United Kingdom's sixth operational Gamma Knife center.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a gentler alternative to traditional brain surgery for illnesses such as acoustic neuromas and metastatic disease, which is cancer that has travelled to the brain from elsewhere in the body. With pinpoint accuracy, the system delivers up to thousands of low-intensity radiation beams to one or more targets in a single session. Perfexion provides even greater speed and ease of use than previous models.

According to NHNN neurosurgeon, Neil Kitchen, M.D., the hospital's acquisition of radiosurgery technology supports the U.K. government's efforts to improve access to advanced clinical techniques, and will reinforce research and clinical efforts focused on neurological disorders.

"In terms of research, the addition of Gamma Knife will enable assessment and evaluation of a range of treatment modalities for brain disorders, particularly for brain metastases," Dr. Kitchen says. "Clinically, Gamma Knife is a well accepted and proven technology that is a gentle and effective option to standard treatments for brain metastases and other brain disorders that can prolong and improve patients' quality of life. Among radiosurgery technology options, after detailed evaluation, we considered Perfexion to be the gold standard that would meet NHNN's clinical and research requirements. In addition, we determined that Perfexion offered accuracy and patient throughput advantages over linac-based radiosurgery."

Established in 1860, NHNN is the United Kingdom's largest dedicated neurological and neurosurgical hospital, treating over 6,000 inpatients, 120,000 outpatients and 8,000 day cases each year. NHNN provides comprehensive services for diagnosis, treatment and care of all conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nervous system and muscles. It offers approximately 200 outpatient clinics each week, covering all aspects of neurology, neurosurgery, neuropsychology and neuro-rehabilitation, in addition to many specialist units, including dementia, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and stroke. NHNN is part of the University College London (UCL) Hospitals Foundation Trust, and closely associated in its work with the UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, a major international center for research and training, with UCL ranked fourth best university in the world.

For further information, please contact:
Johan Andersson Melbi, Director, Investor Relations, Elekta AB
Tel: +46-702-100-451, email: johan.anderssonmelbi@elekta.com  
Time zone: CET: Central European Time

Michelle Joiner, Director, Global Public Relations and Brand Management, Elekta
Tel: +1-770-670-2447, email: michelle.joiner@elekta.com
Time zone: ET: Eastern Time

About Elekta
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care. Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 6,000 hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,400 employees globally. The corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. Website: www.elekta.com.