Stereotactic radiation therapy
Encyclopedia
Stereotactic radiation therapy is a type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position the patient and precisely deliver radiation
to a tumor
. The total dose of radiation is divided into several smaller doses given over several days. Stereotactic radiation therapy
is used to treat brain tumors and other brain disorders. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer
, such as lung cancer
. Also called stereotactic external-beam radiation therapy and stereotaxic radiation therapy.
What differentiates Stereotactic from conventional radiotherapy is the precision with which it is delivered. The patient is held steady inside a metal frame, which is attached to their skull. This frame reduces the amount of movement errors that will occur during a treatment. As the precision of the treatment increases the amount of raditaion delivered can also be increased.
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
to a tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
. The total dose of radiation is divided into several smaller doses given over several days. Stereotactic radiation therapy
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
is used to treat brain tumors and other brain disorders. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, such as lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. Also called stereotactic external-beam radiation therapy and stereotaxic radiation therapy.
What differentiates Stereotactic from conventional radiotherapy is the precision with which it is delivered. The patient is held steady inside a metal frame, which is attached to their skull. This frame reduces the amount of movement errors that will occur during a treatment. As the precision of the treatment increases the amount of raditaion delivered can also be increased.
External links
- Stereotactic radiation therapy entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms