Steriotactic Radiosurgery And Radiotherapy

What is stereotactic radiosurgery and how is it used ?

Stereotactic radiosurgery is a highly precise form of radiation therapy used primarily to treat tumors and other abnormalities of the brain. Despite its name, stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-surgical procedure that uses highly focused x-rays to treat certain types of tumors, inoperable lesions and as a post-operative treatment to eliminate any leftover tumor tissue or to obliterate abnormal blood vessels in congenital arteriovernous malformations.

Stereotactic radiosurgery is an important alternative to invasive surgery, especially for tumors and blood vessel abnormalities located deep within or close to vital areas of the brain. Radiosurgery is used to treat many types of brain tumors, both benign or malignant and primary or metastatic. Additionally, radiosurgery is used to treat arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), a tangle of expanded blood vessels that disrupts normal blood flow in the brain and is the leading cause of stroke in young people...

Who will be involved in this procedure ?

The treatment team is comprised of a number of specialized medical professionals, typically including a radiation oncologist, neurosurgeon, medical radiation physicist, dosimetrist, radiation therapist, radiation therapy nurse, and neurologist or neuro-oncologist. The radiation oncologist and neurosurgeon oversee treatment and interpret the results of radiosurgical procedures...

What equipment is used ?

There are three basic forms of stereotactic radiosurgery, each of which uses different instruments and sources of radiation: Gamma Knife, which uses 201 beams of highly focused gamma rays. Because of its incredible accuracy, the Gamma Knife is ideal for treating small to medium size lesions. See the Gamma Knife page for more information.

Linear accelerator (LINAC) machines, prevalent throughout the world, deliver high-energy x-ray photons or electrons in curving paths around the patient's head. The linear accelerator can perform radiosurgery on larger tumors in a single session or during multiple sessions, which is called fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy....

Who operates the equipment ?

The multidisciplinary team, including the radiation oncologist, medical physicist and dosimetrist, plan and prescribe the appropriate treatment dose and delivery. The radiation therapist is responsible for operating the radiosurgical equipment from a protected area nearby. The radiation therapist can observe the patient through a window or on a closed-circuit television and is able to communicate with the patient throughout the procedure.

Is there any special preparation needed for the procedure ?

Prior to the procedure, you may be given a special shampoo with which to wash your hair. You will be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before your treatment. You should ask your physician what to do about taking any normal medications on the day of your treatment and bring those medications with you to the procedure...

  

Please log on to : www.indiahospitaltour.com

Send your query : Get a Quote

We Care Core Values

We have a very simple business model that keeps you as the centre.

Having the industry's most elaborate and exclusive Patient Care and Clinical Coordination teams stationed at each partner hospital, we provide you the smoothest and seamless care ever imagined. With a ratio of one Patient Care Manager to five patients our patient care standards are unmatched across the sub continent.