title: Stereotactic radiosurgery--the role of charged particles.
abstract: Stereotactic radiosurgery using charged-particle beams has been the subject of biomedical research and clinical development for more than 50 years. Charged particles of proton mass or greater manifest unique physical properties that can be used to place a high dose of radiation preferentially within the boundaries of a deeply located intracranial target volume. Since 1954, nearly 10000 patients have been treated using this technique. Treated disorders include pituitary tumors, vascular malformations, primary and metastatic brain tumors, and subfoveal neovascularization. Charged-particle radiosurgery is particularly advantageous for the conformal treatment of large and/or irregularly shaped lesions, or for the treatment of lesions located in front of or adjacent to sensitive brain structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, California 92354, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Schulte
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Slater
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000601:surgery*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage