What Radiosurgery Is And How It Works
Radiosurgery is an innovative, non-surgical procedure that uses high-intensity beams of radiation with great precision
and accuracy to destroy cancer cells. When the cancerous cells are hit by the beams, their ability to reproduce is
compromised and they eventually die, causing the tumor to shrink.
Radiosurgery was first used to treat brain tumors, but technological advances now make it possible to treat cancers
in many locations of the body. When treating tumors in the body, radiosurgery is called SBRT, which stands for
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.
Radiosurgery and SBRT
• Kill cancer cells within 1-5 treatments as opposed to several weeks with traditional radiotherapy
• Target tumors within one millimeter of accuracy, which minimizes effects on surrounding healthy tissue
• Allow radiation oncologists to safely deliver a much higher dose than traditional radiation therapy
• Are options for patients for whom surgery is not recommended
Features of the Edge Radiosurgery System
The Varian® EdgeTM radiosurgery system is designed to effectively treat a wide range of cancers including those in
the brain, spinal cord, lung, liver, face and other areas. Through its progressive technology, the Edge radiosurgery
system offers an alternative to traditional surgery for patients with cancer.
Quick Facts
• This aggressive procedure enables radiation oncologists to deliver powerful, precise treatments to radiosurgery candidates — no incisions necessary
• Edge delivers knifelike, high-intensity beams to accurately target and destroy tumors that are typically difficult to reach surgically
• It lets the doctor view the tumor from virtually every angle at all times during the procedure
• Very sophisticated respiratory monitoring systems and tumor tracking systems help reduce the risk to surrounding healthy tissue if the tumor moves when the patient breathes or if the tumor shrinks or moves between treatments.
• Delivers higher doses of radiation at great speed, allowing most treatments to be given quickly without compromising accuracy
Benefits to Patients
• Most treatments last less than 15 minutes, so patients can get in and out and back to their lives quickly
• Because there’s no incision, procedures are done on an outpatient basis
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