title: Technological advances in radiation oncology for central nervous system tumors.
abstract: Advances in computer software technology have led to enormous progress that has enabled increasing levels of complexity to be incorporated into radiotherapy treatment planning systems. Because of these changes, the delivery of radiotherapy evolved from therapy designed primarily on plain 2-dimensional X-ray images and hand calculations to therapy based on 3-dimensional images incorporating increasingly complex computer algorithms in the planning process. In addition, challenges in treatment planning and radiation delivery, such as problems with setup error and organ movement, have begun to be systematically addressed, ushering in an era of so-called 4-dimensional radiotherapy. This review article discusses how these advances have changed the way in which many common neoplasms of the central nervous system are being treated at present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Shin-ei
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lautenschlaeger
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Siedow
authors.forename: Disha R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Areej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Jawahri
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Jay S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Loeffler
authors.forename: Marc R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bussiere
authors.forename: Arnab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakravarti
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D016634:Radiosurgery; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000639:trends