Stereotactic radiosurgery of lung
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a technique that utilizes precisely targeted radiation to a tumor while minimizing radiation to adjacent normal tissue. This targeting allows treatment of small- or moderate-sized tumors in either a single or limited number of dose fractions. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) initially was used successfully forbrain cacners and malformations, orbital, and base of skull tumors, as well as benign conditions that can use the skull as a reference system. The success of SRS for intracranial indications led to the development of techniques to extend this approach to targets outside of the skull, such as lung cancer. Stereotactic radiation therapy for other body sites iwas enabled by technical advances including tumor imaging to guide radiation administration, patient immobilization, and conformal radiation delivery techniques.
The usual use for SBRT for lung cancer is to attempt a cure or occasionally to control symptomatic lung metastases. It should be realized that this is not a treatment that is free from potential side effects. American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (ASTRO, 2007) stated that SBRT is considered appropriate for the treatment of the following conditions:
Lung or liver metastases not amenable to surgery
Medically inoperable early stage lung cancer
Primary liver cancer not amenable to surgery
Recurrent lung cancer amenable to salvage therapy
Recurrent pelvic tumors
Retroperitoneal tumors
Spinal and para-spinous tumors
Other recurrent cancers or tumors.
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