Particle accelerator and health

1997/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna
• Medikuntza

The municipality of Abbazia di Mirasole, in the area of Milan, will inaugurate within five years the first European accelerator of particles exclusively for medical use. It will cost $60 million and treat 1,000 cancer patients a year.

For the first time in the world it will be possible to directly treat with protons or carbon ions places outside the scope of surgery, such as areas of the eye or brain.

The accelerator will end the formation of free tumor cells. In addition, both protons and ions can focus more accurately than x-rays.