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Photon Radiosurgery: A Clinical Review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Michael R. McKenzie
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology (Division of Radiation Oncology), McGill University, Montreal
Luis Souhami*
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology (Division of Radiation Oncology), McGill University, Montreal
Ervin B. Podgorsak
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology (Division of Radiation Oncology), McGill University, Montreal
André Olivier
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal
Jean-Louis Caron
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal
Jean-Guy Villemure
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal
*
Department of Radiation Oncology, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Avenue Cedar, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1A4
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Abstract:

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The term radiosurgery has been used to describe a variety of radiotherapy techniques which deliver high doses of radiation to small, stereotactically defined intracranial targets in such a way that the dose fall-off outside the targeted volume is very sharp. Proton, charged particle, gamma unit, and linear accelerator-based techniques appear to be equivalent from the standpoint of accuracy, dose distributions, and clinical results. However, capital and operating costs associated with the use of linear accelerators in general clinical use are much lower. Radiosurgery has an established role in the treatment of arteriovenous malformations and acoustic neurinomas. Interest in these techniques is increasing in neurosurgical and radiation oncological communities, as radiosurgery is rapidly assuming a place in the management of several other conditions, including craniopharyngiomas, meningiomas, and selected malignant lesions.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1992

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