Authors' recommendations: Tomotherapy has been used for a very wide range of cancer types including some normally refractory to standard radiation therapy. Most studies reviewed were either tomotherapy plan modelling, assessment of tomotherapy acute toxicity, or case series of tomotherapy treatments. In general all reports of tomotherapy are generally favourable with usually better than standard therapy outcomes. Despite this, no high quality, long-term evidence was found on effectiveness of tomotherapy, so it remains to be seen whether tomotherapy improves clinical outcomes such as survival time, or symptom reduction. No cost effectiveness data were found preventing comparisons with existing therapies. The large amount of literature generated on tomotherapy is generally positive yet of low quality. Controlled trials comparing tomotherapy to standard techniques are needed before further investigation of this subject is warranted. It is likely that this technology will emerge in the long-term and if high quality research is published in this field it will be identified by routine horizon scanning. Therefore HealthPACT have recommended that no further assessment is warranted.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2009

URL for published report: Not Available

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Australia

Organisation Name: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: School of Public Health, Mail Drop 545, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, AUSTRALIA, Tel: +61 8 8313 4617

Contact Name: ahta@adelaide.edu.au

Contact Email: ahta@adelaide.edu.au

Copyright: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA)