Tuesday, 15 May 2012


STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY
- Now, a new advancement in Neurosurgery
The understanding and management of brain tumours has improved tremendously in the last two decades. Discovery of cell receptors, crucial enzymes and onco genes has made better understanding of tumour biology. There have been relentless efforts to improve therapeutic options for these tumours and thus resulting in improved surgical therapies, newer drugs and improvements in radiotherapy.

Stereotactic Surgery is a special field of neurosurgery designed to reach the tumour (focal point) in the brain in a minimally invasive way through a keyhole through a safe trajectory with precision. With advances in imaging calculations of X, Y and Z axis,reaching the target has become much more precise.

Delivery of Radiotherapy to these tumours has taken a significant leap forward by combining these two techniques. This has opened a new era of noninvasive neurosurgery called “Stereotactic Radiosurgery”. Here, in radiation beams are delivered through a stereotactic method to the tumour (point of interest) without damaging the surrounding brain or the vital structures. Once the diagnosis of a brain tumour is made with good imaging with the assistance of software and computers, the whole treatment can be planned beforehand like virtual reality - the area to be irradiated, the dose of radiation, the number of beams, directions, size, shape and volume of beams can be planned. Then the dose is calculated and divided between the areas and the beams. The whole planning is done and reconfirmed to ensure safety by the neurosurgeon and the radiotherapist. The patient is then shifted to the TrueBeam STx machine, which delivers the total dose of radiation through a rotating arc in just 3-4 minutes with absolute accuracy, speed and safety. The TrueBeam STx is the world’s most advanced radio therapy machine and technology commissioned for the first time in Asia-Pacific in Bangalore.

The patient is kept under observation for a day and discharged. The patient requires a regular follow up with the neurosurgeon for up to two years.

The indication for this technology and its clinical applications for the brain and spine disorders are rapidly expanding. Now It is the standard of treatment and of choice for vascular malformations of the brain and benign tumours. This is completely noninvasive, no incisions, no ICU stay and a limited hospital stay of 1-2 days only. In addition tumours in critical areas and in complex locations like skull base as well as residual tumours can be e treated effectively. Patients of all age groups can undergo this procedure. It opens a new option for the elderly people as well as those with medical complications who are otherwise not fit for surgery.

BGS Global Hospitals is always committed to provide state of the art care on par with the best international standards at affordable prices by adopting such technology .The Global Hospitals group is further expanding with such installations being made in Chennai and Mumbai in the near future.


Dr. N. K. Venkataramana
Vice-Chairman and Chief Neurosurgeon,
BGS Global Hospitals  Ph : 080 4906 7348/349

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