title: Stereotactic radiotherapy: an emerging treatment for spinal metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this concise update is to describe the emerging treatment of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for spinal metastases.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Spinal metastases are common and can present complex clinical challenges that conventional treatment cannot always meet satisfactorily. Examples include a history of prior irradiation at the same site or radio-resistant tumor histology. Stereotactic body radiotherapy makes it possible to deliver high doses of radiation with the aim of improving tumor control and palliation. It is increasingly being offered to selected patients including those requiring re-irradiation and post-operative treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important that specialists managing patients with spinal metastases are aware of the potential advantages of SBRT and how this can complement and extend existing treatment approaches, including spinal decompression and stabilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahele
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Fehlings
authors.forename: Arjun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahgal
mesh_terms: D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods