For the first time, a team of doctors in the United States,  have treated a patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma using step-and-shoot spot-scanning proton arc therapy (SPArc)—a precise form of proton therapy that spares healthy tissue.

Conducted at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, this technique was found to reduce radiation exposure to critical areas like the brainstem, spinal canal, and oral cavity by up to 90% compared to standard methods.

Published in the International Journal of Particle Therapy, the study involved a 46-year-old woman treated with 33 SPArc sessions. She experienced minimal side effects and continued working throughout treatment.

Various experts have praised the method’s precision, especially for tumours near vital organs.

Though a more advanced dynamic version of SPArc is still under development, this marks a major step in treating complex head and neck cancers with reduced collateral damage.

Cost and accessibility, however, still remain key concerns.Click here to read more