What is Radiosurgery?

What is stereotactic radiosurgery?

Stereotactic radiosurgery is a procedure utilizing very accurate targeted radiation in large doses to effectively kill a tumor or destroy a lesion. It is considered a noninvasive procedure that has been used as an effective alternative to surgery or conventional standard fractionated radiation therapy for treating small tumors and other select medical conditions.

It utilizes image guided localization of a target with many radiation beams that can limit the dose to adjacent normal structures.

What is staged or fractionated radiosurgery?

Staged radiosurgery is a process using the same stereotactic radiation delivery. However, the doses are divided into several smaller doses of radiation that are delivered on separate days of treatment. It typically consistent of 2 to 5 treatments. It is also known as fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery. This approach is used to have a similar effectiveness on the treatment of a tumor while attempting to minimize injury to normal structures that may be encompassed or adjacent to the lesion. Its use is increasing for tumors or lesions greater than 3 cm in diameter, or tumors near or around critical structures such as the optic nerve (vision), the vestibular nerve (balance and hearing), or lung (breathing). The primary advantage is that the normal tissues surround the tumor receive a smaller dose and may be able to recover before the next dose of radiation is administered. Staged or fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery may be a treatment option for patient not considered candidates for single dose radiosurgery due to its location, size, or other medical factors.