The Sterotactic Radiosurgery Team
Now, brain tumors and malformations which couldn't be treated, can be. The means are found at the most advanced institutions. The manner is found only at the NeuroCenter.
Sometimes, Another Birthday Is The Gift
Another six months, another year, another 30 years. Where once patients had no hope, they now find help. They find it through Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), one of the most remarkable advances in the treatment of brain disorders.
SRS treats lesions which cannot be safely reached through traditional surgical means by focusing narrow dynamic arcs of radiation to controlled areas of the brain.
The procedure is widely found at distant teaching hospitals, but today, the Central Pennsylvania NeuroCenter brings SRS closer to our patients, along with treatment advantages found at few medical institutions anywhere.
Where Sterotactic Radiosurgery Can Help
Traditional neurosurgery is still the treatment of choice. It continues to offer the best probability of curing the disorders. But SRS offers an alternative when factors such as lesion location make neurosurgery high risk.
SRS works by delivering precise doses of radiation to exact lesion locations with minimal disturbance to healthy brain tissue. This is done by first scanning the brain to create a 3-dimensional model of the affected area and then using this information to both analyze the disorder and to program the linear accelerator.
In cases involving benign tumors and arteriovascular malformations, the procedure can be curative. With malignant tumors, it can slow their growth and extend life expectancy. It mat also be used to treat matastic tumors.
A Typical Treatment Process |
- Placement of Stereotactic Head Frame
- CT scans indicate lesion location
- MRI scan (if necessary)
- 3-D computer dosimetry provides information to further analyze lesions and program linear accelerators for radiation delivery.
- Procedure is planned
- Test run
- Radiation therapy
- Follow up with CT and/or MRI
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The Demands Of SRS
As with any type of brain treatment, SRS diagnosis and treatment must be precise. Great emphasis is placed on understanding the disorder and planning treatment with a 3-dimensional treatment planning system. Test runs fine-tune each procedure.
After radiation is administered, the patient is followed closely to monitor healing and to observe for complications. Since some patients are less tolerant of radiation than others, multiple treatments may be required.
In spite of these demands, and even though traditional surgery is still the preferred course of treatment, SRS is still proving to be quite effective and advances in its use are quite promising. With continued refinement, it may one day become the first choice of treatment.
Reducing The Burden Through Coordinated Care
The NeuroCenter makes it easier to reach for advanced neurological care. Not just by bringing it closer to our patients but by bringing all the expertise and equipment together in one facility.
An entire SRS team works in tandem for the ...... confidence of a multidiscipline consensus. With this approach, services are not duplicated and options are not overlooked.
All the expertise in one place |
| The SRS team includes the combined experience of: |
- Radiation oncologist
- Neurosurgeon
- Physicist
- Nurses
- Dosimetrist
- Radiation therapist
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Reaching Out For The Help And Hope Of The SRS Team
To learn more about the NeuroCenter's Stereotactic Radiosurgery Team or to discuss a particular case call us at 717-544-3170. We would be glad to arrange a tour of our Radiosurgery Suite and a meeting with SRS team leaders, Dr. Eddy Garrido and Dr. Terence Moore.