Beijing Friendship Hospital adds prone positioning for selected radiotherapy patients

Beijing Friendship Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, has introduced prone body-positioning and breast boards in its radiotherapy department. Its October 26, 2026 report describes an additional treatment-position option for patients with breast cancer and certain abdominal or pelvic tumours. Nearly 100 patients had received prone radiotherapy by the time of the report.

Why positioning can change the plan

Lying on the back remains the most common radiotherapy position. However, differences in body shape, tumour location and nearby organs mean that it does not produce the best dose distribution for every patient. Prone positioning changes the spatial relationship between the treatment target and surrounding normal tissues.

For selected breast cancer patients, particularly those with larger breasts, the prone breast board allows breast tissue to hang away from the chest wall and the lung on the treated side. The hospital describes this as a way to reduce normal lung tissue within the radiation field and, especially for left-sided breast cancer, to reduce heart exposure. Spreading breast tissue more naturally can also reduce skin folds and local high-dose areas. These are planning advantages for suitable patients, rather than a reason to change position in every breast treatment.

An option for some pelvic tumours

The body board supports the abdomen while leaving an opening beneath it. With the patient prone, gravity can move part of the small bowel away from the pelvic treatment area. For rectal cancer and certain other pelvic tumours, this can help reduce small-bowel exposure. Carbon-fibre construction and body support are intended to keep the position stable.

The hospital also uses thermoplastic immobilisation to improve the reproducibility of prone positioning. The equipment is only one part of a treatment process that includes simulation, imaging, target delineation, planning, position verification and delivery.

Imaging and individual assessment remain central

Large-bore CT and MR simulation provide complementary information about the tumour and normal organs. During treatment, linear-accelerator image guidance verifies the patient's position and target location. VMAT can be chosen according to tumour characteristics; 4D-CT is available to assess respiratory motion when that motion is relevant to planning.

The hospital reports reduced normal-tissue doses and related injury in its experience, but gives no detailed comparative patient data in this announcement. For someone considering care, the concrete new option is an established department offering an additional position within individualised radiotherapy. The useful discussion is whether the patient's anatomy and tumour site make that position appropriate and how the complete imaging and treatment plan protects nearby organs.