Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

Similar to Gamma Knife treatment for tumors and other abnormalities in the brain, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is performed at the Siteman Cancer Center for isolated cancerous lesions in the lung, liver and spinal column. This therapy precisely delivers a high dose of radiation to one or two small targets. SBRT typically is administered in three to five treatments using either a Trilogy or TomoTherapy unit.

With its built-in CT scanning equipment, the Trilogy unit allows radiation oncologists to identify tumors and map their location. The radiation oncologist then aims approximately 10 to 12 radiation beams at the tumor’s center. Because these beams come from different directions, a high dose is delivered to the center of the tumor, while surrounding normal tissue is minimally affected.

The Trilogy unit is equipped with sophisticated software that can account for breathing motion, making it ideal for tumors that move during treatment, such as those in the lungs or liver.The TomoTherapy unit also offers on-board CT scanning capabilities. It can deliver SBRT around critical organs, such as to a tumor in the spine, where the radiation dose needs to curve around the spinal cord.