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Stereotactic radiosurgery - Recovery

Alternative Names

Gamma knife; Cyberknife; Stereotactic radiotherapy; Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy; Cyclotrons; Linear accelerator; Lineacs; Proton beam radiosurgery

Before the Procedure:

Before the treatment, you will have MRI or CT scans. Using these images, a computer creates a 3-D (three dimensional) map of the tumor area. This planning process helps your neurosurgeon and radiation oncologist to determine the specific treatment area.

The day before your procedure:

Do not use any hair creams or hair spray.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight unless told otherwise by your doctor.

The day of your procedure:

Wear comfortable clothing.
Bring your regular prescription medicines with you to the hospital.
Do not wear jewelry, make-up, nail polish, or a wig or hairpiece.
You will be asked to remove contact lenses, eyeglasses, and dentures.
You will change into a hospital gown.
An intravenous (lV) line will be placed into your arm to deliver contrast material, medicines, and fluids.

After the Procedure:

Often, you will be able to go home about an hour after the treatment is finished. You should arrange for someone to drive you home. Most people go back to their regular activities the next day, if there are no complications such as swelling. Some patients are kept in the hospital overnight for monitoring.

Outlook (Prognosis):

The effects of radiosurgery may take weeks or months to be seen. The prognosis depends on the condition being treated. Many times, your health care provider will monitor your progress using imaging tests such as MRI and CT scans.

Reviewed last on: 1/22/2009
Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

DeAngelis LM. Tumors of the Central Nervous System and Intracranial Hypertension and Hypotension. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 199.

Kavanagh BD, Timmerman RD. Stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy: an overview of technical considerations and clinical applications. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2006;20:87-95.

Romanelli P, Anschel DJ. Radiosurgery for epilepsy. Lancet Neurol. 2006;5:613-620.

Sneed PK, Kased N, Huang K, Rubenstein JL. Brain metastases and neoplastic meningitis. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG, eds. Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 52.

Zivin JA. Hemorrhagic Cerbrovascular Disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 432.

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