Stereotactic Radiosurgery - Shaped Beam™ Surgery
Novalis® Shaped Beam™ Surgery is the latest advance in stereotactic radiosurgery. This state-of-the-art technology uses sophisticated
computer software to “sculpt” radiation to the exact contours of a brain or spinal tumor. Shaped Beam™ Surgery is performed
using Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience’s Novalis® Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine. This machine rotates around the patient
while he or she is held in place with a mouthpiece or masking device. During the machine’s rotation, radiation beams target
the tumor from all angles and continuously change and adapt to its unique shape and size.
Shaped Beam Surgery supports multiple treatment methods, including an innovative capability known as
Intensity Modulated RadioSurgery™ (IMRS) that allows both the radiation
and the dose to be “sculpted.” With IMRS, varying doses of radiation can be administered during the same treatment. That means
that even
higher
doses can be targeted to the bad tissue, while the spinal cord or other sensitive brain tissues and structures remain protected
from radiation.
Shaped Beam Surgery is ideal for patients with tumors that are hard to reach and difficult to treat, such as meningiomas (benign
brain tumors), tumors of the pituitary gland, tumors of the acoustic nerve (which carries sound from the inner ear to the
brain), recurrent brain tumors and tumors of the spine. Shaped Beam Surgery can also be used to address epilepsy, trigeminal
neuralgia (
a disorder of the trigeminal nerve that causes brief attacks of severe pain in the lips, cheeks, gums or chin on one side
of the face) and even, in some cases, obsessive-compulsive disorder and movement disorders.
See also:
Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience is the Delaware Valley's leading provider of stereotactic radiosurgery.
Here's why.
