Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Overview

Stereotactic radiosurgery is an image-guided form of radiation therapy that uses tiny beams to deliver a single high dose of radiation. This therapy can target very small areas of the brain and neck. It kills cancer cells while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding, healthy tissue.

Doctors also recommend stereotactic radiosurgery to treat arteriovenous malformations, a tangling of blood vessels in the brain.

Despite its name, stereotactic radiosurgery is not surgery. It is an outpatient procedure that involves highly focused, highly precise radiation. You will wear a removable mask to keep your head still. You should tell your doctor if you are claustrophobic.

The procedure is typically a one-day procedure that lasts up to four hours. Patients can return to their normal daily activities the following day.

Because no two people respond to radiation therapy the same way, our radiation oncology team will discuss with you any potential side effects.

You may experience one or more of the following:

• Fatigue
• Fever/chills
• Nausea
• Skin irritation

• Brain tumors
• Neck