Stereotactic radiosurgery: results and current trends

Purpose/Objectives: By October of 1995, more than 25,000 patients worldwide will have been treated with radiosurgery. Historically, benign tumors and vascular abnormalities were the most common lesions treated by the radiosurgeon. However, brain metastases and primary CNS malignancies have become a more common target. The goal of this refresher course is to review the current status of the role of radiosurgery in the management of a wide variety of intracranial targets. Updates of multi-institutional trials and cooperative group studies will be provided. The various physical and biological parameters associated with the success and failure of therapy (including complications) will also be emphasized including the post-radiosurgery radiographic results. Fractionated regimes (stereotactic radiotherapy) are more commonly being employed and the biological and physical rationale of these techniques will be presented along with the early results