Radiosurgical techniques for the treatment of brain neoplasms: A short review

Abstract

Radiotherapy has long been used as an adjunct to neurosurgery for the treatment of malignant and benign intracranial tumors and other intracranial lesions. Intracranial tumors can be irradiated in three different ways: I) fractional radiotherapy, II) stereotactic radiotherapy and III) stereotactic radiosurgery. The third is most often by means of a gamma knife or a specially designed linear accelerator. Additionally, radiosurgery is increasingly used in combination with systemic therapy to treat metastases.

Keywords: Neurosurgical techniques; Radiotherapy; Stereotaxy; Gamma knife; Linear accelerator

Core tip: Intracranial tumors can be irradiated in three different ways: with fractional radiotherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery. Additionally, radiosurgery is increasingly used in combination with systemic therapy to treat metastases.