Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Precise, High-Dose Radiation Treatments
Call for an AppointmentStereotactic radiosurgery treats small tumors and abnormalities in the brain and body by delivering high doses of radiation to precisely targeted areas. Stereotactic radiosurgery shortens overall radiation treatment time and minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue when compared to whole brain radiation therapy, which is another option for treating brain tumors. This is especially important for tumors located close to critical structures, such as the brain stem and optic nerves.
More than 400 of these complex procedures are performed at Duke each year. We use this advanced technology to treat people with tumors that may be hard to reach through surgery and who may be turned down for treatment at other centers.
About Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Stereotactic radiosurgery relies on 3D imaging to locate the tumor and precisely define its size and shape. Doctors use these images to target the area to be treated and plan the treatment, including the number of doses needed. Typically, that number can range from one to five treatments. The high-energy X-rays are delivered through a linear accelerator, which provides the highest level of precision, speed, and patient comfort. Imaging takes place during treatment; your position is adjusted to ensure you are in exactly the correct position throughout the delivery of the radiation.
Maximizing Your Comfort
Staying immobile during the procedure is very important to ensure the precise delivery of the treatment. Hospitals that use the Gamma Knife to perform radiosurgery keep patients immobile by pinning a head frame to the skull. At Duke, we use a different device to perform most stereotactic radiosurgery. Instead of pinning a head frame to your skull, a custom-molded plastic mask is used to immobilize your head, which maximizes your comfort.
Scheduled in Combination with Other Treatments
One of the benefits of stereotactic radiosurgery is that it can be timed in between or during cycles of chemotherapy. This minimizes the delay of other effective treatments that are part of your treatment plan.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
Stereotactic radiosurgery used for body areas outside the brain is called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). It can be used to treat spine, lung, and liver tumors.
Stereotactic radiosurgery treatments are available at two Duke locations.
Why Choose Duke
- Radiation oncologists -- Use radiation to treat cancer and other conditions
- Neurosurgeons -- Use surgery and radiosurgery to treat brain and spine disease
- Radiation physicists and dosimetrists -- Help the radiation oncologists plan the treatment and perform quality assurance on all plans
- Radiation therapists -- Administer the treatments
- Nurses (RN and/or nurse practitioners) -- Provide care during radiation treatments
Safety and Quality Assurance
We perform extensive quality assurance checks to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of each and every treatment.
Expertise and Experience
Our skill and training enable us to treat people who are sometimes turned away at other hospitals because their tumors are too large, too numerous, too rare, or too complex.
Clinical Trial Access
You may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial that is testing new radiation therapies and techniques, as well as novel drugs in combination with radiotherapy.
Where you receive your cancer care is important. Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. They are why our cancer program is nationally ranked, and the highest ranked program in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2021–2022.