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| Treatment Questions
What is "Sterotactic Radiosurgery"?
This is a very specialized way to deliver a very high dose of radiation therapy to a very small volume. Unlike any surgeries, there is no cutting involved. Arteriovenous malformations, acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, and other small brain tumors may be treated with SRS. It is an outpatient-based procedure. After your consultation, you may need to have an MRI of the brain done. This usually occurs the day before treatment.
Treatment day is long, requiring you to stay the full day in our department. When you first come in, our nurse will go over the entire day’s events with you. Then, the physician will come in and address any concerns or questions you may have. After this, the neurosurgeon will place a head frame on. This takes about 5 to 10 minutes and afterwards you are taken for a CAT-scan. The CAT-scan data is put into the computer planning program. The head frame serves as a point of reference and allows the radiation beam to precisely home in on the tumor. While the planning is underway, you will be resting in one of the patient rooms. During this time, you may read, watch TV (we have a TV and DVD player, as well a selection of DVD movies), or talk with family members.
You may eat after you CAT-scan, which usually happens early in the morning. Finally, at the end of the day, you will have your treatment. Treatment is anti-climatic; you will not see or feel anything during treatment. Treatment lasts approximately 20 to 45 minutes. Once treatment is finished, the neurosurgeon will remove the head frame. Then, you are ready to go home. Treatment is well tolerated, though you may have a headache for a few days.
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