The Emerging Role of Stereotactic Radiosurgery in the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Title:The Emerging Role of Stereotactic Radiosurgery in the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Volume: 5 Issue: 4

Author(s): Manlio Barbarisi and Pantaleo Romanelli

Affiliation:

Keywords: Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, Glioblastoma multiforme, image-guidance, stereotactic radiosurgery.

Abstract: Stereotactic radiosurgery is an emerging treatment option offered to patients with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Radiosurgery is performed as an outpatient procedure and provides a safe and effective non invasive treatment for focal GBM. High energy beams originating from cobalt sources placed into an helmet (Gamma-Knife) or generated by a linear accelerator (LINAC) rotating on a gantry (X-Knife, Novalis) or maneuvered by a robotic arm (CyberKnife) are delivered with submillimetric accuracy to a selected intracranial target. Treatment accuracy is provided by image-guided volumetric CT and MR studies complemented with advanced metabolic neuroimaging techniques such as CT-PET. Radiosurgery is typically used as a salvage treatment in patients with recurrent GBM to avoid further surgical procedures or as a complement to conventional fractionated radiotherapy. This paper reviews the emerging role of stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of GBM.

Cite this article as:

Barbarisi Manlio and Romanelli Pantaleo, The Emerging Role of Stereotactic Radiosurgery in the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Current Radiopharmaceuticals 2012; 5 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874471011205040292