Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a non-invasive method of delivering a single, high-dose of radiation to a prescribed tumor. It is principally used to treat cancers of the brain, and head and neck that cannot be treated through surgery. Our doctors have collectively treated more than 800 patients using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and they were among the first in New Jersey to begin using BrainLAB based stereotactic radiosurgery, an enhancement in SRS that provides even greater targeting acccuracy and better results for our patient.

Dr. Brian Chon recently spoke about Stereotactic Radiosurgery on KYW Newsradio 1060.
Click here to listen.

A patient who is interested in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) will typically go through the following steps:

Step 1: Consultation

To determine whether a patient is a good candidate for stereotactic radiosurgery, he or she will meet with both a radiation oncologist and a neurosurgeon.  If SRS is determined to be the best course of treatment, the patient will undergo a special MRI.  On the day of the procedure, these MRI images will be combined with a CT image using our BrainLAB technology.

Step 2: Placement of the Stereotactic Headframe

On the day of the procedure, the neurosurgeon will place a stereotactic headframe around the patient's head, which will ensure accurate localization of the tumor. Four pins roughly the size of a pen tip will be placed on the scalp to keep the headframe from moving. This procedure will be performed under local anesthesia and is completely painless.

Step 3: CT scan

Once the headframe has been secured, a CT scan of the brain will be performed. This scan ensures a precise visualization of the tumor. The patient's MRI images are then fused with the CT images by our BrainLAB technology. The fusion of these images provides an extremely precise anatomical visualization of the tumor.

Step 4: The Treatment

Within the next several hours, a comprehensive treatment plan will be formed by the radiation oncologist and physicists. The patient will be brought into the radiation treatment room and positioned on the treatment machine. The stereotactic headframe will be locked into position on the treatment couch, ensuring that the patient remains completely still when the radiation is delivered.

Step 5: Completion

When the treatment is over, the headframe will be removed by the radiation oncologist. Stereotactic radiosurgery does not require hospital admission and the patient may return home the same day.