|
|
Neurosurgeons at the Emory Clinic can attack brain tumors more effectively and safely than ever, due to a new device that allows them to precisely contour high-energy radiation beams.
By doing so, this ‘‘beam shaper’’, called a micro-multileaf collimator, can accommodate irregularly shaped brain lesions, sending the maximum possible amount of radiation that goes into surrounding normal tissue. This is especially important in brain surgery, in which lesions may be near or wrapped around critical nerves such as the optic nerve or the auditory/facial nerve. Indiscriminate radiation can damage these nerves, causing reduced function.
‘‘This system allows us not only to treat tumors that are spherical in shape, but also tumors of irregular shapes, which are by far the majority,’’ said neurosurgeon Nelson Oyesiku, an assistant professor of neurosurgery in Emory’s School of Medicine.
Neurosurgeons favour streotactic radiosurgery for selected conditions because it offers an effective, non-invasive alternative to conventional brain surgery, which requires opening up the skull. The procedure is applied to a variety of brain tumours such as meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, metastatic tumors and pituitary tumors. It also is used for certain vascular malformations of the brain.
Emory neurosurgeons use the micro-multileaf collimator in concert with another technological innovation, the Exac Trac, to offer fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy D, a technique that divides a single radiation treatment into several treatment sessions, allowing the neurosurgeon to limit the risk to surrounding normal tissue. The Exac Trac also allows precise repositioning of a patient undergoing a series of radiation treatments, ensuring that the radiation is consistetly aimed at exactly the same place.
‘‘Say a patient comes in for treatment on Monday,’’ explained Dr. Oyesiku.’ The Exac Trac will remember the exact position the patient was in when he comes in for treatment on Wednesday, so that the lesion can be formed again and the radiotherapy machine will direct the beams specifically to the same position.’’
BACK
|
