title: Stereotactic body radiation therapy. Rationale, techniques, applications, and optimization.
abstract: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a rapidly evolving cancer treatment method in which concepts and techniques previously developed for brain tumor radiosurgery are adapted to eradicate tumors elsewhere in the body. The spatial accuracy, conformality, and steep radiation dose gradients of radiosurgery, which have been critical to its success in the treatment of intracranial tumors, are applied in SBRT to treat a variety of extracranial tumors. Early results demonstrate excellent response rates and low toxicity with a variety of hypofractionated dose regimens and localization/immobilization techniques. This article provides an overview of the rationale and results of SBRT for specific indications, descriptions of some methods of treatment delivery, and discussion of potential areas of future investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA. songda@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Danny Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.forename: Stanley H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schefter
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome