Usage in organs

Lung radiotherapy

Drastically reduce the risk of transthoracic implantation

Lung cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed worldwide. Lung tumors can often be visualized with cone-beam CT but there are cases that can benefit from using fiducial markers, e.g. when there is atelectasis or when the tumor edges as blurry. Many doctors, however, hesitate to use fiducial markers in lung due to the risk of pneumothorax when using the relatively thick needles that are required to implant traditional fiducial markers.

Gold Anchor’s industry leading thin needles drastically reduce the risk of transthoracic implantation. And the marker can also be placed using bronchoscopy. 

Gold Anchor implanted in lung tumor.

Peripheral lung tumors

Transthoracic implantation of Gold Anchor in peripheral lung tumors is almost complication-free in comparison to implantation of traditional markers. Experience from needle aspiration biopsy indicates that 18G needles (frequently used for traditional markers) cause ten times as many pneumothoraces needing treatment as 22G/25G needles (used for Gold Anchor).

  • For statistics on 25G needle, see ASTRO 2009 poster
  • For statistics on Gold Anchor in lung, see SFRO 2015 poster

Central lung tumors

Placement of Gold Anchor through bronchoscope in central lung tumors, is possible by using Gold Anchor Introducer. The Gold Anchor Introducer is delivered pre-loaded with the Gold Anchor marker inside. It comes in a blister single pack, sterilized, ready for use, with the marker length clearly indicated on the package. The Introducer is used to transfer the marker over into a 22G endobronchial ultrasound aspiration needle (“EBUS Needle”).

“In our radiation and interventional oncology practice at Austin Cancer Centers, we have found that by using the Gold Anchor system; this has allowed us to treat soft tissue tumors that were once considered inaccessible. Given the small gauge size of the needles, this has added a significant margin of safety that we had not previously enjoyed.”

Gregory K. Bell

M.D; Interventional Oncology, Austin Cancer Centers, USA