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Stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-surgical form of radiation therapy that is used to eliminate or shrink abnormal tissue in the brain with a single treatment. It is used both for benign (noncancerous) conditions as well as cancer. 

Stereotactic body radiotherapy, or SBRT, is used to deliver 1-5 targeted, high-dose treatments to a location within the body. 

Stereotactic Radiosurgery at Valley

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a very effective method for treating cancer and neurological conditions in the brain, head and neck. 

How stereotactic radiosurgery works: 

  • Highly focused beams of radiation are directed to the treatment area.
  • The shape and dose of the radiation are optimized to hit only the target, without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. This allows for a higher-dose, single treatment.

The benefits of stereotactic radiosurgery using Gamma Knife:

  • Fewer unpleasant side effects, such as hair loss, nausea, fatigue and memory deficits.
  • Virtually painless 
  • Patients can resume normal activity soon after their one treatment session.
  • Associated with improved quality of life without compromising survival for certain patients.

Conditions treated: Brain tumors (both benign and cancerous), metastatic brain tumor, trigeminal neuralgia, acoustic neuroma, meningioma, arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and other conditions treated with Gamma Knife. 

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy at Valley

Stereotactic body radiotherapy, or SBRT, at Valley uses TrueBeam and Brainlab’s ExacTrac technology to deliver treatment with accuracy measured in millimeters.

How SBRT works: 

  • Tumors are targeted through careful planning using CT and surface imaging before treatment.
  • Fewer, high-dose treatments are delivered to the target area.
  • Our doctors monitor your treatment with highly precise X-ray, thermal, and surface imaging to ensure the most accurate treatment delivery.

The benefits of SBRT:

  • Real-time internal and external imaging tools allow our doctors to “visualize” the patient’s anatomy and tumor they are targeting, allowing for improved accuracy.
  • By administering higher doses of radiation with more precision, this accelerator requires fewer courses of treatment.
  • Patients experience less side effects than with conventional radiation therapy because more healthy tissue is spared.

Conditions treated: Lung cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, spinal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and metastatic cancers 

Why Choose Valley for Stereotactic Radiosurgery or Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

  • Gamma Knife technology and experience: Valley was the first hospital in northern New Jersey to offer Gamma Knife Icon stereotactic radiosurgery.
  • Unmatched precision: We use ExacTrac Dynamic technology from Brainlab to scan your body with 300,000 points of reference – 10 times more than most systems. This next-generation imaging capability allows us to monitor your movement, such as your breathing cycle, to identify and adjust for better treatment accuracy.
  • More patients are eligible for treatment: The TrueBeam system paired with ExacTrac Dynamic greatly improves treatment precision. This expands the number of patients who are eligible for shorter treatments of high-dose radiation.