Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a highly precise, non-invasive form of radiation therapy used to treat tumours and other conditions in the brain and other parts of the body. There are no cuts, even though the word "surgery" is in the name. Instead, high-dose radiation beams are aimed with great precision at a specific area. Radiation can focus on the tumour while sparing healthy tissue around it, thanks to advanced imaging and computer-guided planning. People often use SRS to treat brain tumours, metastatic lesions, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and some functional disorders. Most of the time, treatment is done in a single session, but some cases may require a few shorter sessions.
Why It's Done
SRS is used to treat small or well-defined tumours and blood vessel problems that are hard to reach with surgery. It is often suggested for patients who can't have open surgery or when precise targeting is needed to protect important parts of the brain. The goal is to stop the tumour from growing, shrink the lesions, or get rid of the abnormal blood vessels, while causing the least problems and taking the least time to recover.
What to Expect?
Before treatment, patients undergo detailed imaging tests, such as MRI or CT scans, to identify the exact site where treatment will be performed. A custom head frame or mask may be used to keep the patient still during the procedure. Specialised software is used to determine the radiation dose and treatment angles for treatment planning. During SRS, the patient lies on a treatment table while a machine sends several focused beams of radiation to the area that needs treatment. Depending on how hard it is, the session could last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Most of the time, the procedure doesn't hurt and doesn't need general anaesthesia. Patients are watched for a short time after treatment and usually go home the same day.
Recovery & Outlook
Most patients are back to their normal activities within a day, so recovery is usually quick. You might feel a little tired or have a headache for a short time. SRS is a useful option for modern cancer treatment because it controls tumours well with little disruption.