Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Medical X-Ray Center’s Radiation Oncologists
and Physicists work closely with local Neurosurgeons to provide the precise
delivery of high dose radiotherapy to a variety of lesions in the brain.
One of the reasons for the high precision of dose delivery is that a
frame is attached to the patient’s skull to help localize the target.
The Neurosurgeon places the headframe, then a CT scan is obtained
with localizing rods attached to the frame.
The CT scan is then reconstructed three dimensionally with the rods,
allowing us to see where anatomy is in space, relative to the frame.
MRI data can be fused to the CT scan to allow better delineation of
the target and critical normal tissues.
This gives millimeter accuracy targeting the lesion while avoiding
unwanted dose to normal structures. Arcs
of radiotherapy are then delivered to the patient’s target lesion while in
a supine position. Because all
the arcs of radiotherapy are focused on the lesion, a very high dose is able
to be given which we hope to translate to better cure rates.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery is now being delivered to multiple
extracranial tumors as well. Medical X-Ray Center has offered Stereotactic Radiosurgery in
Sioux Falls since 2001.
