title: Radiosurgery using a stereotactic headframe system for irradiation of brain tumors in dogs.
abstract: Radiation therapy of brain tumors in dogs typically involves administration of multiple fractions over several weeks. Fractionation is used to minimize damage to normal tissue. Radiosurgery uses multiple non-coplanar stereotactically focused beams of radiation in a series of arcs to deliver a single dose to the target with extreme accuracy. The large number of beams facilitates a high degree of conformation between the treatment area and the target tumor and allows for a steep dose gradient; the use of nonintersecting arcs minimizes exposure of normal tissue. Computed tomography with a stereotactic localizer secured to the skull allows generation of a 3-dimensional image of the target and provides accurate spatial coordinates for computerized treatment planning and delivery. Three dogs were treated with radiosurgery, using 1,000 to 1,500 cGy. A linear accelerator mounted on a rotating gantry was used to generate and deliver the radiation. Two dogs with meningiomas survived 227 and 56 weeks after radiosurgery. A dog with an oligodendroglioma survived 66 weeks. No complications were observed following the use of this technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Bova
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Buatti
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Meeks
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chrisman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary