Siriraj Hospital Launches Asia’s First Halcyon Version 5 for Precision Cancer Radiotherapy
BANGKOK — Siriraj Hospital has introduced Halcyon Version 5, becoming the first medical institution in Asia to use the latest radiotherapy system for patient treatment, as Thailand’s oldest hospital moves to strengthen the speed, precision and accessibility of cancer care.
The Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, officially unveiled the system on September 11 at the Rajanagarindra Radiation Therapy Building.
The launch was led by Prof. Dr. Apichat Asavamongkolkul M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, together with Prof. Dr. Yongyut Sirivatanauksorn, M.D., Director of Siriraj Hospital, and Assoc. Prof. Pittaya Dankulchai, M.D., Deputy Director of Siriraj Hospital and Head of the Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology.
According to Siriraj Hospital, Halcyon Version 5 combines three advanced technologies in a single radiotherapy platform HyperSight, IDENTIFY and PerfectKinetix designed to improve tumor visualization, patient monitoring and treatment positioning.
HyperSight Provides CT-Like Imaging Before Radiotherapy
One of the system’s key technologies is HyperSight, a high-speed imaging system capable of producing detailed, CT like images within seconds.
The technology allows the medical team to visualize the tumor and surrounding anatomy immediately before radiation is delivered, supporting accurate patient positioning and treatment targeting.
The system also delivers radiation rapidly, which can shorten treatment sessions and potentially allow the hospital to accommodate more patients.
IDENTIFY, meanwhile, provides real time patient motion monitoring. If a patient moves beyond a predetermined tolerance during treatment, radiation delivery can be automatically interrupted, adding another layer of safety during the procedure.
The third technology, PerfectKinetix, is a treatment couch capable of multidirectional positioning adjustments, allowing the clinical team to make more precise positioning corrections before treatment.
Together, the technologies are designed to help clinicians visualize, monitor and position patients more accurately throughout radiotherapy.
Siriraj Aims to Strengthen Precision Cancer Treatment
Prof. Dr. Apichat Asavamongkolkul said the introduction of Halcyon Version 5 represents an important step in advancing cancer treatment at Siriraj Hospital.
“The introduction of Halcyon Version 5 at Siriraj marks an important step forward in cancer treatment and reflects the Faculty’s readiness in terms of personnel, knowledge, support systems and medical infrastructure,” he said.
He added that the technology also reinforces Siriraj’s role as a medical institution working to improve quality of life for patients in Thailand and internationally.
Siriraj Hospital has provided medical care for 138 years, with a longstanding emphasis on quality, safety and equitable access to healthcare.
Prof. Dr. Yongyut Sirivatanauksorn said the introduction of the new system goes beyond adding advanced medical equipment and is intended to strengthen the hospital’s overall radiotherapy capabilities.
The technology is expected to help make treatment faster and more precise while increasing the hospital’s capacity to care for cancer patients.
Radiotherapy Available Across Thailand’s Major Healthcare Schemes
Siriraj Hospital said patients will be able to access treatment using Halcyon Version 5 through Thailand’s major public healthcare schemes, including the Universal Coverage Scheme, Social Security Scheme and Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme.
The hospital said ensuring broad access is an important part of introducing advanced medical technology into its clinical services.
“World-class medical advances must be accessible to everyone equally, without limitations,” Prof. Dr. Yongyuth said.
The policy is particularly significant as cancer patients often require multiple radiotherapy sessions over an extended period, making access and treatment capacity important components of cancer care.
Faster Imaging and Radiation Delivery May Shorten Treatment Sessions
Assoc. Prof. Pittaya Dankulchai, M.D. explained that the system combines high-quality imaging before radiation treatment with rapid and continuous ring-based radiation delivery.
This allows radiation to be directed toward the treatment target with greater precision while reducing unnecessary radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissue.
The faster treatment process can also reduce the amount of time patients need to remain on the radiotherapy treatment couch.
This may be particularly beneficial for patients who have difficulty remaining still for extended periods.
Halcyon Version 5 Supports Treatment of Multiple Cancer Types
Siriraj Hospital said Halcyon Version 5 can be used in radiotherapy for a broad range of cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancers, gastrointestinal and liver cancers, prostate cancer, and gynecological cancers such as cervical cancer.
The system may also support patients who require prolonged courses of treatment or adjustments to their treatment plans during therapy.
Beyond patient care, Siriraj plans to use the technology to support clinical research in radiation oncology, providing opportunities for medical professionals and researchers to further develop radiotherapy practices and contribute to advancing Thailand’s cancer treatment standards internationally.
The introduction of Halcyon Version 5 represents another step in Siriraj Hospital’s efforts to combine advanced medical technology with broader access to cancer care while strengthening Thailand’s capabilities in precision radiotherapy.
Source : Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
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