Central Nervous System Radiosurgery

Radiosurgery is the delivery of a high dose of radiation to a small area in the body, with surgical precision. Radiosurgery is one of the most technologically advanced treatments available in neurosurgery, it is non invasive, it is usually painless and generally requires one single dose (ambulatory). This treatment has the capacity to destroy tumors inside or in the surroundings of the central nervous system (Brain and Spine), it can also treat arteriovenous malformations or painful syndromes such as trigeminal neuralgia.

A typical treatment consist in determining the lesion o lesions to treat, usually base don a previous Magnetic Resonance which normally allows amore anatomic visualization of the area to treat, once the plan has been revised and approved by the Radiosurgeon, Radiation Oncologist and Physicist, the patient is fixed by ways of a plastic mask or a non-invasive frame to the Tomtheraphy table, a new image is acquired (Image Guided Radiosurgery) in order to verify the exact position of the patient in relation to the original plan, afterwards an Intensity Modulated Helical Radiation is administered to the lesion for about 30 minutes, the patient is discharged immediately after that with a few anti-inflammatory medicine that must be taken for a couple of days.

Radiosurgery is a highly successful modality but must be part of a holistic treatment for the disease. It is not a replacement for surgery or other non-radio therapeutic treatments and it has specific purposes, and indications, in particular treatment of small deep seated lesions that are not causing major neurological deficit nor do they compromise life.

Radiosurgery with Tomotheraphy extends its field of treatment to the full body, El Salvador was the first country in Latinamerica to incorporate this technology, Dr. Lovo is head of the Brain and Spinal Radiosurgery Program of the International Cancer Center of the Hospital de Diagnóstico.