According to international data, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in developed countries. Nevertheless, an encouraging trend has emerged in recent decades: although the incidence of cancer continues to increase in the general population, cancer-related mortality has declined. This improvement can be attributed largely to advances in early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
The principal therapeutic modalities in the management of cancer are surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic pharmacological treatment. Approximately half of all patients with cancer can achieve cure through one of these approaches or through a combination of two or more modalities. Radiotherapy, in particular, plays a central role in modern cancer care, with approximately 60% of patients with cancer estimated to require radiation treatment at some point during the course of their disease.
Radiotherapy involves the administration of high-energy ionizing radiation to destroy malignant cells, either within the primary tumor or in residual disease following surgery, while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. The fundamental objective is to achieve the highest possible probability of tumor control while preserving normal tissue function and, consequently, the patient’s quality of life.
Over the past several decades, technological innovation has transformed the field of radiation oncology. The development of increasingly sophisticated and precise treatment technologies has enabled radiotherapy to be delivered with greater accuracy, safety, and clinical effectiveness. Advanced radiotherapy techniques, supported by modern linear accelerators, have progressively become an integral component of contemporary clinical practice. Their primary objective is not only to optimize tumor control but also to reduce radiation-induced toxicity and minimize both acute and long-term treatment-related side effects.
High-precision treatment techniques—including three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and stereotactic techniques such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)—are now established components of the therapeutic armamentarium of radiation oncologists. Furthermore, the integration of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) into modern linear accelerator systems enables verification of patient positioning and treatment accuracy before and, when required, during treatment delivery. Advanced four-dimensional (4D) imaging and respiratory-motion management technologies can further account for tumor movement associated with respiration, thereby reducing unnecessary irradiation of surrounding normal tissues.
Technology has therefore played, and continues to play, a pivotal role in the evolution of radiotherapy. The transition from conventional radiation treatment to contemporary high-precision radiation oncology has been driven by continuous technological innovation and by the close interaction between clinical medicine, radiation physics, engineering, computer science, and imaging. Over recent decades, this technology-driven transformation has substantially enhanced the ability of radiation oncologists to deliver highly conformal radiation doses with increasing precision and safety.
The future of radiotherapy will therefore depend not only on the continued development of increasingly sophisticated treatment technologies, but also on their effective integration into a patient-centered clinical framework. The ultimate goal remains unchanged: to provide every patient with the most effective and safest treatment possible, maximizing the probability of tumor control while preserving quality of life.
Global availability of radiotherapy
Despite the remarkable technological progress achieved in radiation oncology, access to radiotherapy remains highly unequal worldwide. According to data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Directory of Radiotherapy Centres (DIRAC), as of April 2026, radiotherapy facilities were available in only 158 of 214 countries. Consequently, patients in 51 countries had no access to radiotherapy services and were dependent either on alternative treatment approaches or, where feasible, on access to facilities in neighboring countries. The lack of radiotherapy infrastructure is particularly pronounced in Africa, where 30 countries were reported to have no radiotherapy services.
Among the radiotherapy equipment registered in the DIRAC database, linear accelerators represented the predominant technology, accounting for approximately 78.1% of installed machines. Cobalt-60 teletherapy units accounted for approximately 3.6%, proton therapy systems for 0.8%, and brachytherapy equipment for approximately 17.5%. The relatively limited availability of proton therapy reflects, among other factors, the substantial financial and infrastructural investment required for its implementation. At the time of the reported data, proton therapy facilities were available in only 23 countries.
The number of radiotherapy centers varies considerably between countries, reflecting major differences in population size, healthcare infrastructure, economic resources, and access to advanced cancer care. While several countries have only a single radiotherapy center, others have extensive national networks.
| Data | Number | Percentage |
| Radiotherapy Centers | 8.635 | |
| Radiotherapy Machines | 21.296 | |
| Radiotherapy LINACs | 17.267 | 81,10% |
| Cobalt machines | 703 | 3,30% |
| Brachytherapy | 3.326 | 15,60% |
| Proton therapy Centers | 140 | |
| Proton Treatment rooms |
Source: DIRAC Data
Development of linear accelerator technology in Greece
The tables below present an overview of the radiotherapy market within the Greek healthcare system. A comprehensive analysis of the development and current status of the Greek radiotherapy market is provided in the book The Technology of Radiotherapy in Greece, 1959–2024, published in Greek by the Institute of Supply Chain and Hospital Technology.
| Parameters | Data as October 2026 |
| Population (census 2021) | 10.482.000 |
| Radiotherapy Centers | 31 |
| Radiotherapy Centers (Public) | 19 |
| Radiotherapy Centers (Private) | 12 |
| Radiotherapy Machines (LINACs) | 61 |
| Radiotherapy Centers with 1 Linac | 9 |
| Radiotherapy Centers with 2 Linacs | 14 |
| Radiotherapy Centers with 3 Linacs | 5 |
| Radiotherapy Centers with 4 Linacs | 3 |
| Radiotherapy Machines | 66 |
| Radiotherapy Machines (LINACs) | 61 |
| Radiosurgery Machines | 3 |
| Cobalt Units | 2 |
| Proton Therapy | 0 |
Two companies have the 91% of the market of five which have presentation in Greece.
#ELEKTA #VARIAN/SIEMENS #ACCURAY #THERATRONICS #TOMOTHERAPY #SHIVA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS # UNITED IMAGING # BASDA MEDICAL #SUPER ACCURACY # XINDRAY MEDICAL # MEDSINGLONG # SHENZHEN ANKE HIGH-TECH # NEUSOFT MEDICAL SYSTEMS # PIOWAY MEDICAL # CHONGQING VISION STAR # MINDRAY
