Use of linear accelerators in stereotaxical radiosurgery

The term stereotaxical radiosurgery was coined in 1951 by Leksell and defined as the controlled destruction, thus an unopened cranium of a small intracerebral area. Up to the present x-rays, gamma ray and heavy particle sources have been used. Heifetz, Colembo and Betti in 1984 were the first in reporting adaptation of a commercially used linear accelerator to stereotaxical radiation surgery. The material, method, results, advantages are described along with other previously mentioned alternatives and the development of a system of radio surgery through stereotaxy using a conventional linear accelerator in our country. (Author)