Special Procedures

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) of Intracranial Tumors
  SRS is the process of delivering a lethal dose of radiation, to a localized region of the brain where the growth is prominent. The radiation effect in this case would be like the surgeon's scalpel. It would eradicate the targeted disease and spare any other vital, sensory, or motor function area in the brain.
  
  In some cases SRS is an alternative to conventional brain surgery and at other cases, the only means for resecting inoperable lesions.
  
  SRS is an outpatient procedure, but it is an elaborate one. It would take the patient a whole day to undergo the several steps involved; image acquisition, treatment planning, quality control, and treatment.
  
  
• Intracavitary Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy
  This procedure is solely for GYN patients with cancer of the cervix. It is and adjuvant therapy to the external beam treatment. It is mainly beneficial to curative cases.
  
  In the operating room, a metal applicator would be secured through and around the cervix. Then radiographic localization and computer dose calculation would follow. Depending on the calculation outcome, Cs-137 radioactive material would be placed in the applicator. The duration of the implant is between 24 to 72 hours. After that time the radioactive materials will be removed. The applicator will be removed and the patient will be discharged.
  
  It is an in-patient procedure. It requires hospitalization and a stay in bed for one to three days.
  
  
• Intracavitary and Interstitial High Dose Rate Brachytherapy
  This device would allow for performing brachytherapy on an outpatient basis. It has numerous application for various anatomical areas, for instance:
  
  
  • Uterus, Cervix, Vagina
  • Introperative radiation therapy
  • Bronchi
  • Esophagus
  • Skin lesions
  
  A computer controlled radioactive source would be driven into applicators implanted in the diseased organ. The source would be made to dwell for a pre-programmed amount of time and dwell positions, thereby depositing a radiation dose conforming to the desired prescription.