Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treats brain disorders with a precise delivery of high dose of radiation. Focused radiation beams are delivered to a specific area of the brain to treat abnormalities, tumors or functional disorders.
Through the use of three-dimensional computer-aided planning, the treatment can minimize the amount of radiation that passes through healthy brain tissue. Stereotactic radiosurgery is routinely used to treat brain tumors and lesions. It may be the primary treatment, used when a tumor is inaccessible by surgical means; or as a boost or adjunct to other treatments for a recurring or malignant tumor. In some cases, it may be inappropriate because of the type of tumor, size, location or age of the patient. Unlike surgery, radiosurgery does not remove a tumor. Rather, the goal of radiosurgery is to prevent further tumor growth.
The use of radiosurgery in the treatment of skull base lesions is a powerful and evolving modality. Each patient and skull base tumor is unique. Radiosurgery may be an appropriate treatment for acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, trigeminal neuralgia, and other skull base conditions.