Stereotactic device for Gamma Knife radiosurgery in experimental animals: technical note.
OBJECTIVE
Radiosurgery has become a well-established treatment modality for many intracranial lesions and the information obtained from animal experiments is crucial in devising new strategies with improved efficacy and less risk. We constructed a stereotactic device for rats which can be used for both usual laboratory work and radiosurgery using a Gamma Knife.


METHODS
The stereotactic device was made by modifying the basic design of the ordinary stereotactic frames used for usual laboratory work. It was developed for both Gamma Knife model B and C. An auxiliary tool was also devised which facilitates the placement of the target point at the radiation isocenter.


RESULTS
The reliability of the device was verified by checking the radiation profile and absorbed dose. The results of the experimental irradiation in normal and tumor-cell-inoculated rats demonstrated the usefulness of the device.


CONCLUSIONS
The modified animal stereotactic frame described herein can be used for both the production of experimental animal models and for performing radiosurgery with a common apparatus.
Im
Yong-Seok
YS
Department of Neurosurgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Nam
Do-Hyun
DH
Kim
Jong-Soo
JS
Ju
Sang-Gyu
SG
Lim
Do-Hoon
DH
Lee
Jung-Il
JI
D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004867:Equipment Design; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*