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Linear Accelerator Radiosurgery

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Principles and Practice of Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Abstract

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a minimally invasive treatment modality that delivers a large, single dose of radiation to a specific intracranial target while sparing surrounding tissue. Unlike conventional fractionated radiotherapy, SRS does not maximally exploit the higher radiosensitivity of brain lesions relative to normal brain (therapeutic ratio). Its selective destruction is dependent mainly on sharply focused, high-dose radiation and a steep dose gradient away from the defined target. The biological effect is irreparable cellular damage (probably via DNA strand breaks) and delayed vascular occlusion within the high-dose target volume. Because a therapeutic ratio is not required, traditionally radioresistant lesions can be treated. Because destructive doses are used, however, any normal structure included in the target volume is subject to damage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA

    William A. Friedman MD (Professor and Chair)

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  1. William A. Friedman MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Lawrence S. Chin MD (Professor and Chairman) (Professor and Chairman)

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland Medical School, Baltimore, MD, USA

    William F. Regine MD (Professor and Chairman) (Professor and Chairman)

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Friedman, W.A. (2008). Linear Accelerator Radiosurgery. In: Chin, L.S., Regine, W.F. (eds) Principles and Practice of Stereotactic Radiosurgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-71070-9_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-71070-9_10

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